Laminated film, method for production thereof, bag and package using the laminated film, and method for separation thereof

ABSTRACT

A laminated film includes an outer-layer-film, a water-soluble film, and an intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. The intermediate layer contains a high-pressure polyethylene oxidized to a prescribed degree on a surface thereof contiguous to the water-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable.

This is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/234,146 filed Sep. 5,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,067, which in turn is a Division ofapplication Ser. No. 09/654,835 filed Sep. 1, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.6,471,401, wich in turn is a Division of application Ser. No. 08/969,792filed Nov. 13, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,746. The entire disclosureof the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laminated film, a method for theproduction thereof, a bag and a package both using the laminated film,and a method of the peeling (or separating) thereof.

Heretofore, for the purpose of accommodating agricultural chemicals andother various commodities, bags which are made of a laminated filmhaving the component layers thereof joined by lamination so strongly asto be impossible to peel have been used. The conventional laminated filmhas for the innermost layer thereof a film (such as, for example, LLD-PE(linear low-density polyethylene) film) that is thermally adhesive(namely heat-sealable) to itself. A commodity is placed in ahermetically sealed bag produced by superposing this laminated film sothat the thermally adhesive film is positioned inside, and heat-sealingthe prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film so that theparts of the thermally adhesive film facing to each other at theprescribed portions are fused to each other.

As means for enabling commodities to be contained in hermetically sealedbags that are made of the laminated film mentioned above, the twomethods called “bag supplying method” and “automatic packaging method”are known. The bag supplying method comprises a manufacturer of bagsinitially producing bags open in one side from the laminate filmmentioned above and a manufacturer of commodities then receiving thesupply of these bags, filling the bags with their commodities via theopenings thereof, and thereafter occluding the openings of the bags byheat-sealing. The automatic packaging method comprises a manufacturer,for example, of commodities forwarding the laminated film mentionedabove through the sequential steps of the process of production of bagssuch as, for example, superposing the laminated film upon itself,heat-sealing the prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film,and filling the formed bags with their commodities, and finallyobtaining hermetically sealed bags accommodating the commoditiestherein. Irrespectively of the choice between these two methods,automatic machines adapted to automate the steps of manufacturementioned above have been finding extensive adoption by themanufacturers of commodities. In the case of the bag supplying method,for example, such automatic machines as are capable of automaticallyfilling the bags opened in one side with the commodities and thenautomatically heat-sealing the openings of the filled bags are used. Inthe case of the automatic packaging method, such automatic machines asare capable of automating the process of automatic packaging mentionedabove are used.

Generally, even when the commodity to be contained happens to be apowdery agricultural chemicals (which is generally diluted with waterprior to use), for example, it is directly contained in the bag that ismade of the conventional laminated film mentioned above. When a user ofthe agricultural chemicals opens the bag, the powdery agriculturalchemicals is drifted up through the opened side of the bag possibly tobe inhaled by the user or suffered to impinge on the user's hands, withthe result that the powder will do harm to the user's system. When theuser transfers the powdery agricultural chemicals from the bag into atank for the purpose of diluting it with water, the powdery agriculturalchemicals is likewise drifted up and suffered to do harm to the user'ssystem. Even after the agricultural chemicals has been extracted fromthe bag, the remnant thereof adheres to the inner wall of the bag. Ifthe bag in this condition is discarded among the household rubbish,therefore, it will form a cause for environmental pollution.

For the purpose of safeguarding the environment against this danger,therefore, the practice of containing a given powdery agriculturalchemicals in a bag made of a water-soluble film, hermetically sealingthis bag, further containing the bag of the water-soluble filmaccommodating the agricultural chemicals in a bag formed of theconventional laminated film mentioned above, and hermetically sealingthe outer bag has been in vogue in recent years. In this case, the bagof the water-soluble film serves as an inner bag and the bag of theconventional laminated film as an outer bag. The reason for using theouter bag in this manner is that the water-soluble film succumbs readilyto the degeneration by the ambient condition and possesses no sufficientstrength.

When the inner bag and the outer bag are used as described above, theouter bag can be opened without entailing the danger of drifting up theagricultural chemicals and the inner bag containing the agriculturalchemicals can be directly placed in a tank and diluted with the wateraccommodated in the tank (because the inner bag of the water-solublefilm dissolves on contact with water), with the result that thecomposite bag will ensure perfect ease of handling because theagricultural chemicals accommodated therein no longer has thepossibility of doing harm to the user's system or jeopardizing thesafety of the environment. After the agricultural chemicals has beenextracted from the outer bag, absolutely no remnant thereof is adheringto the inner wall of the outer bag. When the outer bag is discarded asit is among household rubbish, therefore, it entails absolutely noproblem.

The foregoing remarks hold good not only for the powdery agriculturalchemicals mentioned above but also for a granular or liquid agriculturalchemicals and other various commodities.

The conventional practice of using both an inner bag and an outer bag,however, incurs a huge cost. This conventional practice of using both aninner bag and an outer bag, for example, requires inner bags to beseparately produced and necessitates an extra cost for this production.The operation of placing the inner bag accommodating a given commodityin the outer bag, for example, necessitates the use of new devices at anextra cost of equipment because this operation does not permit use ofthe aforementioned existing automatic machines which fit the bagsupplying method and the automatic packaging method mentioned above.

The idea of preparing a laminated film having an outer-layer-film and awater-soluble film weakly joined to each other in a peelable mannerthrough the adhesive of weak adhesive force (adhesive strength or peelstrength) and, in accordance with the conventional bag supplying methodor automatic packaging method mentioned above, superposing thislaminated film so that the water-soluble film is positioned inside,heat-sealing the prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film sothat the parts of the water-soluble film facing to each other a theprescribed portions are fused to each other, thereby forming ahermetically sealed bag, and containing a commodity in this bag isconceivable in the circumstance. Incidentally, the water-soluble film isgenerally thermally adhesive to itself.

According to this method employing the adhesive, the bag made of thelaminated film mentioned above has a double-wall structure consisting ofan outer-layer-film functioning as an outer bag and a water-soluble filmfunctioning as an inner bag. The user of the commodity contained in thisbag, similarly to the aforementioned composite bag consisting of aninner bag and an outer bag, is only required to peel (or separate) theouter-layer-film to obtain the commodity as contained in the inner bagof the water-soluble film without entailing the danger of drifting upthe commodity such as, for example, agricultural chemicals. He is thenrequired to place the inner bag still accommodating the commodity in thetank and dilute it with the water accommodated in the tank (because thebag made of the water-soluble film dissolves on contact with water),with the result that the user will enjoy perfect ease of handlingbecause the commodity accommodated therein no longer has the possibilityof doing harm to his system or jeopardizing the safety of theenvironment.

Since the laminated film mentioned above can be handled during theinsertion of a given commodity therein in the same manner as theconventional laminated film, the existing automatic machines and otherdevices can be used in their unmodified form. The bag incurs nonoticeable addition to the cost of production because it obviates thenecessity of separately producing inner bags unlike the aforementionedcomposite bag consisting of an inner bag and an outer bag.

In the method resorting to an adhesive agent, the adhesive agent is noteasily obtained as vested with ideal properties for the adhesioncontemplated by the method. The product of this method, therefore, hasthe possibility that the properties of the adhesive and thewater-soluble film will vary with the elapse of time because of thereaction between the components of the adhesive and the water-solublefilm. The possibility that the outer-layer-film will not be easilypeeled off from water-soluble film when the user seeks to use thecommodity accommodated in the bag, the outer-layer-film will peel fromthe water-soluble film before the bag reaches the user, thewater-soluble film will sustain pinholes therein, or the water-solublefilm will suffer degradation of the water-solubility thereof, therefore,is undeniable. Further, the possibility exists that part of the adhesivewill remain on the water-soluble film and go to impair the solubility ofthe water-soluble film after the outer-layer-film has been peeled fromthe water-soluble film and the components of the adhesive will reactwith the components of the commodity such as, for example, agriculturalchemicals in the tank accommodating water and degenerate the commodityafter the water-soluble film has been dissolved in the water during theuse of the commodity.

In the method described above, the user of the commodity accommodated inthe bag incurs inconvenience in peeling the outer-layer-film unless thebag is provided with a part which becomes a beginning for peeling theouter-layer-film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been produced in view of the circumstancesmentioned above. The present invention has an object of providing alaminated film capable of producing by the use of existing facilities abag having a double-wall structure essentially consisting of an outerbag and an inner bag made of a water-soluble film and excelling in thepeeling property of the outer bag, a method for producing the laminatedfilm, and a bag and a package both using the laminated film.

The present invention has another object of providing a bag and apackage which both have a double-wall structure essentially consistingof an outer bag and an inner bag made of a water-soluble film, permiteffective use of the existing facilities for the production thereof, andallows the outer bag film thereof to be easily peeled when the commodityaccommodated therein is used, and a method for the peeling thereof.

To solve the problems mentioned above, a laminated film according to afirst aspect of the present invention comprises: an outer-layer-filmincluding one or more layers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediatelayer interposed between the outer-layer-film and the water-solublefilm, the intermediate layer containing high-pressure polyethyleneoxidized to a prescribed degree at least on a surface thereof contiguousto the water-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediatelayer adhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and thewater-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly toeach other as to be peelable (or separable).

The term “fast adhesion” as used herein means the union of two faceswith such adhesive force as to render their peeling substantiallydifficult and the term “weak adhesion” means the union of two faces withsuch adhesive force as is weaker than that of the fast adhesionmentioned above and is capable of allowing the joined faces to peel.

A laminated film according to a second aspect of the present inventionis a laminated film according to the first aspect, wherein theintermediate layer contains an ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomermixed with the high-pressure polyethylene.

A laminated film according to a third aspect of the present invention isa laminated film according to the first or the second aspect, whereinthe carbonyl groups of the oxidized high-pressure polyethylene on thesurface of the intermediate layer are bound to the hydroxyl groups of asurface of the water-soluble film.

A laminated film according to a fourth aspect of the present inventionis a laminated film according to any of the first through third aspects,wherein the water-soluble film comprises at least one material selectedfrom the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, vinylacetate type resin, polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, andpolyvinylpyrrolidone.

A laminated film according to a fifth aspect of the present invention isa laminated film according to any of the first through the fourthaspects, wherein the water-soluble film has the surface thereofcontiguous to the intermediate layer subjected to a corona treatment.

A method for producing a laminated film according to a sixth aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a step of extruding a melted andthermally oxidized high-pressure polyethylene in the form of a filmbetween an outer-layer-film including one or more layers and awater-soluble film; and a step of compressing and meanwhile cooling theouter-layer-film, the water-soluble film and the film of high-pressurepolyethylene.

A method for producing a laminated film according to a seventh aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a step of extruding a melted andthermally oxidized mixture containing a high-pressure polyethylene andan ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer in the form of a film betweenan outer-layer-film including layers and a water-soluble film; and astep of compressing and meanwhile cooling the outer-layer-film, thewater-soluble film and the film of the mixture.

A method for producing a laminated film according to a eighth aspect ofthe present invention is a method according to the sixth or the seventhaspect, further comprising: a step, performed prior to the step ofcompressing, of blowing ozone against the surface of the film ofhigh-pressure polyethylene or the film of the mixture destined tocontact with the water-soluble film.

A method for producing a laminated film according to a ninth aspect ofthe present invention is a method according to any of the sixth throughthe eighth aspects, further comprising: a step, performed prior to thestep of compressing, of subjecting the surface of the water-soluble filmdestined to contact with the outer-layer-film to a corona treatment.

A bag according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is made of atleast one laminated film set forth in any of the first through the fifthaspects. The at least one laminated film is formed in the shape of a bagopened on one side. The at least one laminated film is superposed sothat the water-soluble film is positioned inside. Prescribed portions ofthe superposed laminated film are heat-sealed so that the parts of thewater-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portions arefused to each other.

A package according to a eleventh aspect of the present inventioncomprises a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminated filmset forth in any of the first through fifth aspects; and a prescribedcommodity placed in the bag. The at least one laminated film issuperposed so that the water-soluble film is positioned inside.Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film are heat-sealed sothat the parts of the water-soluble film facing to each other at theprescribed portions are fused to each other.

A package according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is apackage according to the eleventh aspect, wherein perforations fortearing are formed in the heat-sealed portion of the package.

A package according to a thirteenth aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminated filmset forth in any of the first through the fifth aspects, thewater-soluble film not being formed on prescribed edge portions of theouter-layer-film, and a prescribed commodity placed in the bag. The atleast one laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside and that the edge portions are shifted and faced toeach other. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film areheat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing to eachother at the prescribed portions are fused to each other.

A package according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is apackage according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the bag has anon-heat-sealed portion enclosed with the heat-sealed portions andtaking no part in accommodating the commodity; and the bag has a notchedpart for tearing formed in the edge portion corresponding to thenon-heat-sealed portion.

A package according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is apackage according to any of the eleventh through the fourteenth aspects,wherein the commodity is agricultural chemicals, medicament, food, orground bait.

Here, the inferable basic principle of the weak adhesion in thelaminated film according to the first through the fifth aspects will bedescribed below.

In the light of the conventional technical common sense prevalent in thefield of laminated films, it is thought that direct adhesion (adhesionin the absence of an adhesive) between high-pressure polyethylene and awater-soluble film is difficult to attain. Absolutely no case ofeffecting this form of adhesion has ever been reported to date in thefield of laminated films. The techniques of lamination include theextrusion lamination in which a plurality of films directly are adheredto each other without using an adhesive, besides the adhesivelamination. However, in the field of techniques of lamination, theextrusion lamination has been established as a technique of attainingfast adhesion of a plurality of films into an integral composite.Absolutely no idea has been conceived of using the extrusion laminationfor attaining so weak adhesion of a plurality of films as permits thejoined films to be separated by peeling. Absolutely no case of using theextrusion lamination for weak adhesion of a plurality of films has everbeen reported. Particularly, absolutely no case of using the extrusionlamination for direct adhesion between a high-pressure polyethylene anda water-soluble film has ever been known.

The high-pressure polyethylene has a repeating unit represented by thefollowing chemical formula (1), having a hydrogen bond, nonpolar inbehavior, for the terminal group thereof.

CH₂—CH₂

_(n)  (1)On the other hand, a water-soluble film has the polar group of the formof hydroxyl-OH⁻ for the terminal group thereof. It is, therefore,thought that the direct adhesion (through no medium such as an adhesive)of the two members under discussion is difficult.

The present inventors, after a study, have found that when the surfaceof a film including high-pressure polyethylene therein is oxidized,union is attained with adhesive force (peeling force) in accordance withto the extent of the oxidation between high-pressure polyethylene and awater-soluble film.

Specifically, when the high-pressure polyethylene is oxidized, the partof the high-pressure polyethylene that responds to the oxidation becomesa composition represented by the following chemical formula (2).

On the other hand, the substance of the water-soluble film such as, forexample, polyvinyl alcohol has a repeating unit represented by thefollowing chemical formula (3) and a chemical structure represented bythe following chemical formula (4).

It is, therefore, made possible to generate linkage of relatively weakbinding strength between the carbonyl group of the oxidizedhigh-pressure polyethylene and the hydroxyl group of the polyvinylalcohol as represented by the following chemical formula (5).

This linkage generates adhesive force between the film of the oxidizedhigh-pressure polyethylene and the film of the polyvinyl alcohol andallows direct adhesion of the two films. Since the amount of thecarbonyl group in the oxidized high-pressure polyethylene varies withthe degree of the oxidation, the adhesive force between the film of theoxidized high-pressure polyethylene and the film of the polyvinylalcohol can be adjusted by the extent to which the high-pressurepolyethylene is oxidized. Since other water-soluble films likewise havea hydroxyl group, the principle described above applies not only to thefilm of polyvinyl alcohol but also to the other water-soluble films.

It is thought based on the principle described above that in thelaminated film according to the first aspect mentioned above, thewater-soluble film and the intermediate layer containing high-pressurepolyethylene oxidized to a prescribed degree at least on the surfacethereof contiguous to the water-soluble film directly contact each otherand can adhere so weakly to each other as to permit the joined films tobe separated by peeling.

For the layer of the outer-layer-film that approximates most to theintermediate layer in the first aspect mentioned above, for example, itsuffices to employ a layer to which the high-pressure polyethylene canbe joined by thermal adhesion (that is, a layer to which thehigh-pressure polyethylene in a molten state is capable of adheringfast). As a result, the fast adhesion can be realized between theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer.

For the outer-layer-film to be used in the present invention, variousouter-layer-films which have been used in the conventional laminatedfilms mentioned above may be employed. More specifically for theouter-layer-film, (1) simple polyester film, (2) simple paper, (3) acomposite having polyester film thermally adhered to paper (with thepaper on the intermediate layer side), (4) a composite obtained bysuperposing a polyester film, an adhesive layer, an aluminum foil layer,an adhesive layer, and a polyester film sequentially in the ordermentioned and dry-laminating the superposed layer by means of theadhesive layers mentioned above, and (5) a composite obtained bysuperposing an aluminum-evaporated polyester film (polyester film havingaluminum evaporated thereon), an adhesive layer, and a polyester filmsequentially in the order mentioned and dry-laminating the superposedlayers by means of the adhesive layer mentioned above (with thepolyester film on the intermediate layer side), for example, may beemployed.

The oxidation of the high-pressure polyethylene may be the oxidationcaused by heating the high-pressure polyethylene to an elevatedtemperature (for imparting a molten state to the high-pressurepolyethylene, for example) and enabling the oxygen in the air to induceoxidation owing to the elevated temperature (this oxidation referred tohereinafter as “thermal oxidation”), the oxidation induced forcedly, forexample, by blowing ozone thereto (this oxidation referred tohereinafter as “forced oxidation”), or the oxidation due to thecombination of the thermal oxidation and the forced oxidation. Forexample, in the case of the thermal oxidation, the amount of theoxidation can be adjusted by suitably varying the temperature of thehigh-pressure polyethylene, and in the case of the forced oxidation, theamount of the oxidation can be adjusted by suitably varying theconcentration of the ozone.

It has been found that when the mixture of the high-pressurepolyethylene with an ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer is used forthe intermediate layer as in the second aspect mentioned above, theadhesive force between the intermediate layer and the water-soluble filmcan be adjusted by the ratio of combination of the mixture. Further, themixture thus incorporating the ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomertherein enables the intermediate layer to gain in flexibility. As aresult, although the water-soluble film readily expands and contracts,the intermediate layer can follow the expansion and contraction of thewater-soluble film, so the possibility that the expansion andcontraction of the water-soluble film will induce unintentional peelingor the like between the intermediate layer and the water-soluble film isdecreased. A substance which has a similar chemical nature as theethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer may be used in the place or inaddition to the elastomer in the mixture.

The water-soluble film may be formed of various substances as cited inthe fourth aspect mentioned above. For example, the water-soluble filmmay be the film of such a water-soluble synthetic polymer as partiallysaponified polyvinyl alcohol. A water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol typefilm, for example, may be used as the water-soluble film. As concreteexamples of the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol type film, partiallysaponified polyvinyl acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol denatured with maleicacid, itaconic acid or the like. The degree of saponification may be inthe range of 70-98 mol % and the degree of polymerization may be in therange of 500-3000. These degrees of saponification and polymerizationcan be suitably determined in respect of the degree of water-solubility,the strength of the film, and the speed of solution in water.

For example, the water-soluble film may be (1) the film of a partiallysaponified polyvinyl alcohol not being denatured, (2) the film ofpolyvinyl alcohol denatured with a carboxylic acid, (3) the film of adenatured polyvinyl alcohol incorporating therein an oxyalkylene groupor a cationic group, or (4) the film of a denatured polyvinyl alcoholcontaining a sulfonic acid group. As a concrete example of thewater-soluble film of a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing asulfonic acid group, the water-soluble film of a denatured polyvinylalcohol which is disclosed in JP-A-07-118,407 may be cited. Thiswater-soluble film is produced by forming in the shape of a film adenatured polyvinyl alcohol containing 0.1-20 mol % of a sulfonic acidgroup-containing unit represented by the following chemical formula (6).

In the chemical formula (6), R₁ is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkylgroup, R₂ is an alkyl group, R₃, R₄ and R₅ are each independently ahydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and M is a hydrogen atom, an alkalimetal atom, an ammonium group, or an amine.

The water-soluble film may have the surface thereof contiguous to theintermediate layer subjected to corona-treated as in the fifthembodiment mentioned above. The corona treatment is generally means formodifying the surface of a given material, particularly a macromolecularmaterial, by virtue of corona discharge in the air under a pressure ofnot less than 100 mmHg, generally, under the atmospheric pressure. It isuseful for enhancing such properties as adhesion. Since a trace amountof ozone gas is generated by corona discharge when the corona treatmentis performed, this ozone gas can be used for causing the forcedoxidation of the surface of the high-pressure polyethylene by blowingthis ozone gas against the high-pressure polyethylene in a molten state.

For example, the laminated film according to any of the first throughthe fifth aspects mentioned above can be produced by the methods forproduction according to the sixth through the ninth aspects mentionedabove. These methods for production are based on the technique ofextrusion lamination. Since these methods for production use thehigh-pressure polyethylene in a molten state, the high-pressurepolyethylene has a high temperature and, therefore, is subjected tothermal oxidation. The amount of the oxidation by the thermal oxidationis determined by the temperature of the high-pressure polyethylene andthe duration of the exposure thereof to the ambient air and the like.Incidentally, in the eighth aspect mentioned above, the blowing of ozoneis performed for the purpose of further increasing the amount ofoxidation of the high-pressure polyethylene. As the ozone for blowing,the ozone which is generated by the corona treatment mentioned above orthe ozone which is produced by an ozone generator may be used.

The bag according to the tenth aspect mentioned above is an example ofthe bag which is made of the laminated film according to any of thefirst through the fifth aspects mentioned above. Generally, in the bagsupplying method already described, the bag is supplied from amanufacturer of bags to a manufacturer of commodities to be accommodatedtherein. The package according to the eleventh aspect mentioned above isthe product obtained by placing prescribed commodity in a bag similar tothe bag according to the tenth aspect mentioned above using thelaminated film according to any of the first through the fifth aspectsmentioned above except the bag is in a completely hermetically sealedstate. The package constitutes itself the final form in which thecommodity reaches the consumer thereof. The package according to theeleventh aspect may be a product produced by using the bag of the tenthaspect in accordance with the bag supplying method mentioned above or aproduct produced by using the laminated film of any of the first throughfifth aspects mentioned above in accordance with the automatic packagingmethod mentioned above.

In the laminated film according to any of the first through the fifthaspects mentioned above, the outer-layer-film and the intermediate layeradhere fast to each other, and the intermediate layer and thewater-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly toeach other as to peelable. The package according to the eleventh aspectmentioned above which uses the laminated film, therefore, has adouble-wall structure consisting of the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer (hereinafter collectively referred to as “outer bagfilm” for the sake of explanation) which adhere fast to each other andact as an outer bag and the water-soluble film which acts as an innerbag. In this structure, the outer bag film and the water-soluble filmadhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The user of thecommodity in the package, therefore, is only required to peel the outerbag film in gaining access to the commodity accommodated in the innerbag of the water-soluble film similarly to the aforementioned compositepackage consisting of an inner bag and an outer bag. When the commodityhappens to be agricultural chemicals, the outer bag does not suffer thecommodity to drift up when it is peeled and the inner bag stillaccommodating the commodity can be placed in a tank and diluted with thewater placed in the tank (because the inner bag made of thewater-soluble film dissolves on contact with water). This package,therefore, ensures perfect ease of handling because the commodityaccommodated therein no longer has the possibility of doing harm to theuser's system or jeopardizing the safety.

Since the laminated film according to any of the first through the fifthaspects mentioned above can be handled during the insertion of thecommodity therein in the same manner as the conventional laminated film,the existing automatic machines and other devices can be used in theirunmodified form. The bag incurs no noticeable addition to the cost ofproduction because it obviates the necessity of separately producinginner bags unlike the aforementioned composite bag consisting of aninner bag and an outer bag.

In the laminated film according to any of the first through the fifthaspects mentioned above, only linkage occurs between the carbonyl groupof the oxidized high-pressure polyethylene and the hydroxyl group of thewater-soluble film as described above. There is no possibility that thehigh-pressure polyethylene and the water-soluble film will induce otherchemical reactions with the elapse of time. Unlike the laminated film ofthe type using an adhesive as mentioned above, the present laminatedfilm can obtain stable adhesive force with the elapse of time betweenthe intermediate layer and the water-soluble film due to a sparingpossibility of the change of the properties of the high-pressurepolyethylene and the water-soluble film with the elapse of time. As aresult, there is no possibility that the outer bag film will not beeasily peeled off the water-soluble film when the user seeks to use thecommodity accommodated in the bag. There is no possibility that theouter bag film will be peeled off the water-soluble film before the bagreaches the user. There is no possibility that the water-soluble filmwill have pinholes therein. There is no possibility that thewater-soluble film will suffer degradation of the water-solubilitythereof. Further, since the adhesive force between the outer bag filmand the water-soluble film (namely, between the intermediate layer andthe water-soluble film) originates in the union of relatively weakbinding strength produced between the carbonyl group of the oxidizedhigh-pressure polyethylene and the hydroxyl group of the polyvinylalcohol as already described, there is no possibility that thecomponents of the intermediate layer remain on the water-soluble filmafter peeling the outer bag film. As a result, there is no possibilitythat, after the water-soluble film has been dissolved in water inpreparation for use of the commodity such as the agricultural chemicalsaccommodated therein, the components of the intermediate layer willreact with the components of the commodity such as the agriculturalchemicals accommodated in the bag to deteriorate the commodity. Sincethe intermediate layer, unlike the adhesive, can be formed so as to havea relatively large thickness, the intermediate layer additionallyfunctions as a protector against a mechanical shock. In the case ofusing adhesive, sufficient moistureproofing ability can not be obtainedsince the adhesive produces pinholes due to a coating. The intermediatelayer functions so as to enhance the moistureproofing ability sinceintermediate layer does not produce such pinholes thereof.

In the package according to the eleventh aspect mentioned above, likethat of the fifteenth aspect mentioned above, the commodity accommodatedtherein is not limited to agricultural chemicals. The commodityaccommodated may be other commodities such as, for example, medicament,food, and ground bait. The package may accept still other commoditieswhich are used by placing in liquids capable of dissolving thewater-soluble film. It is particularly effective in accommodating suchcommodities as do harm to the human skin, emit offensive odor, or defilethe ambience. The form of the commodity is not limited to powder. Thecommodity may be a granular substance or a liquid substance. When theliquid commodity is an organic solvent, for example, it has nopossibility of dissolving the water-soluble film.

Incidentally, the package according to the eleventh aspect mentionedabove compels the user of the commodity accommodated in the bag toexperience inconvenience in peeling the outer bag film unless thepackage is provided with a part which becomes a beginning for peelingthe outer bag film. The package according to the twelfth or thethirteenth aspect mentioned above is the case where such a beginningpart is formed.

In the package according to the twelfth aspect mentioned above, sincethe perforations for tearing are formed in the heat-sealed portions,when a part of the heat-sealed portions is torn off along theperforations, the outer bag film and the water-soluble film arestretched in mutually different amounts and consequently the stretchedparts of the two films is separated from each other. These stretchedparts, therefore, serve as a part which becomes a beginning for peelingthe outer bag film.

In the package according to the thirteenth aspect mentioned above, theprescribed edge portions of the outer-layer-film on which thewater-soluble film is not formed are sifted and faced to each other, andtherefore these portions do not adhere to each other. Thus, theseportions function as a part which becomes a beginning for peeling theouter bag film.

In the package according to the fourteenth aspect mentioned above, whena part is torn off from the notched part to the non-heat-sealed portionenclosed with the heat-sealed-portions and taking no part inaccommodating the commodity, the outer bag film and the water-solublefilm are stretched in mutually different amounts and consequently thestretched parts of the two films is separated from each other. Thesestretched parts, therefore, serve as a part which becomes a beginningfor peeling the outer bag film.

A bag according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is madeof at least one laminated film. The at least one laminated film isformed in the shape of a bag opened on one side thereof. The at leastone laminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The at leastone laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated filmare heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing toeach other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. Anon-heat-sealed portion and a heat-sealed portion are formed in amutually adjoining state in the area outside a heat-sealed portionenclosing an area of the superposed laminated film destined toaccommodate a commodity. One end of the boundary line between thenon-heat-sealed portion in the outside area and the heat-sealed portionin the outside area reaches the outer edge of the bag on which the frontside part of the laminated film and the rear side part of the laminatedfilm do not continue into each other. A part of the peripheral edge ofthe non-heat-sealed portion in the outside area, which continues to theboundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of the bag on which thefront side part of the laminated film and the rear side part of thelaminated film do not continue into each other. A part of the peripheraledge of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area, which continues tothe boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of the bag on whichthe front side part of the laminated film and the rear side part of thelaminated film do not continue into each other.

A bag according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is abag according to the sixteenth aspect mentioned above, wherein a part ofthe peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area,which confronts the boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of thebag on which the front side part of the laminated film and the rear sidepart of the laminated film do not continue into each other.

A bag according to a eighteenth aspect of the present invention is a bagaccording to the seventeenth aspect mentioned above, wherein, of thepart of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area that lies along theboundary line, at least the part thereof which is positioned on the sideof the one end of the boundary line has a narrow width.

A bag according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention is a bagaccording to the sixteenth aspect mentioned above, wherein a slitpiercing the front side part and the rear side part of the laminate filmis formed in the outside area in such a manner that one end of the slitreaches the outer edge of the bag on which the front side part of thelaminated film and the rear side part of the laminated film do notcontinue into each other. A part of the peripheral edge of theheat-sealed portion in the outside area, which confronts the boundaryline, coincides with at least a part of the slit.

A bag according to a twentieth aspect of the present invention is a bagaccording to the nineteenth aspect mentioned above, wherein, of the partof the heat-sealed portion in the outside area that lies along theboundary line, at least the part thereof which is positioned on the sideof the one end of the boundary line has a narrow width.

A bag according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention ismade of at least one laminated film. The at least one laminated film isformed in the shape of a bag opened on one side thereof. The at leastone laminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The at leastone laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated filmare heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing toeach other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. Anon-heat-sealed portion enclosed with heat-sealed portions is formed inthe area outside a heat-sealed portion enclosing an area of thesuperposed laminated film destined to accommodate a commodity.Perforations for excising a part of the outside area are formed in theoutside area. One end of the boundary line between a non-heat-sealedportion and a heat-sealed portion mutually adjoining in the outside arearemaining after the excision of the part of the outside area reaches theperforations. A part of the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealedportion remaining after the excision of the part in the outside area,which continues to the boundary line, coincides with the perforations. Apart of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion remaining afterthe excision of the part in the outside area, which continues to theboundary line, coincides with the perforations.

A bag according to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention isa bag according to the twenty-first aspect mentioned above, wherein, ofthe heat-sealed portion remaining after the excision of the part in theoutside area, at least the part which is positioned on the side of theone end of the boundary line has a narrow width.

A bag according to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention madeof at least one laminated film. The at least one laminated film isformed in the shape of a bag opened on one side thereof. The at leastone laminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable from eachother. The at least one laminated film is superposed so that thewater-soluble film is positioned inside. Prescribed portions of thesuperposed laminated film are heat-sealed so that the parts of thewater-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portions arefused to each other. A slit exclusively piercing the outer-layer-filmand the intermediate layer is formed in the area outside an area of thesuperposed laminated film destined to accommodate a commodity.

A package according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminatedfilm; and a prescribed commodity placed in the bag. The at least onelaminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The at leastone laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated filmare heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing toeach other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. Anon-heat-sealed portion and a heat-sealed portion are formed in amutually adjoining state in the area outside a heat-sealed portionenclosing an area accommodating the commodity of the superposedlaminated film. One end of the boundary line between the non-heat-sealedportion in the outside area and the heat-sealed portion in the outsidearea reaches the outer edge of the bag on which the front side part ofthe laminated film and the rear side part of the laminated film do notcontinue into each other. A part of the peripheral edge of thenon-heat-sealed portion in the outside area, which continues to theboundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of the bag on which thefront side part of the laminated film and the rear side part of thelaminated film do not continue into each other. A part of the peripheraledge of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area, which continues tothe boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of the bag on whichthe front side part of the laminated film and the rear side part of thelaminated film do not continue into each other.

A package according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention isa package according to the twenty-fourth aspect mentioned above, whereina part of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion in the outsidearea, which confronts the boundary line, forms a part of the outer edgeof the bag on which the front side part of the laminated film and therear side part of the laminated film do not continue into each other.

A package according to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention isa package according to the twenty-fifth aspect mentioned above, wherein,of the part of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area that liesalong the boundary line, at least the part thereof which is positionedon the side of the one end of the boundary line has a narrow width.

A package according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present inventionis a package according to the twenty-fourth aspect mentioned above,wherein a slit piercing the front side part and the rear side part ofthe laminate film is formed in the outside area in such a manner thatone end of the slit reaches the outer edge of the bag on which the frontside part of the laminated film and the rear side part of the laminatedfilm do not continue into each other. A part of the peripheral edge ofthe heat-sealed portion in the outside area, which confronts theboundary line, coincides with at least a part of the slit.

A package according to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present inventionis a package according to the twenty-seventh aspect mentioned above,wherein, of the part of the heat-sealed portion in the outside area thatlies along the boundary line, at least the part thereof which ispositioned on the side of the one end of the boundary line has a narrowwidth.

A package according to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminatedfilm; and a prescribed commodity placed in the bag. The at least onelaminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The at leastone laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated filmare heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing toeach other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. Anon-heat-sealed portion enclosed with heat-sealed portions is formed inthe area outside a heat-sealed portion enclosing an area accommodatingthe commodity of the superposed laminated film. Perforations forexcising a part of the outside area are formed in the outside area. Oneend of the boundary line between a non-heat-sealed portion and aheat-sealed portion mutually adjoining in the outside area remainingafter the excision of the part of the outside area reaches theperforations. A part of the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealedportion remaining after the excision of the part in the outside area,which continues to the boundary line, coincides with the perforations. Apart of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion remaining afterthe excision of the part in the outside area, which continues to theboundary line, coincides with the perforations.

A package according to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention is apackage according to the twenty-ninth aspect mentioned above, wherein,of the heat-sealed portion remaining after the excision of the part inthe outside area, at least the part which is positioned on the side ofthe one end of the boundary line has a narrow width.

A package according to a thirty-first aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminatedfilm; and a prescribed commodity placed in the bag. The at least onelaminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or morelayers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposedbetween the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. Theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other.The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable. The at leastone laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film ispositioned inside. Prescribed portions of the superposed laminated filmare heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing toeach other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. A slitexclusively piercing the outer-layer-film and the intermediate layer isformed in the area outside an area accommodating the commodity of thesuperposed laminated film.

A method for peeling according to a thirty-second aspect of the presentinvention is a method for peeling the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer off a package according to any of the twenty-fourththrough the twenty-eighth aspects mentioned above, comprising: a step ofturning up or pulling the front side part and the rear side part of thelaminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion in the outside area so asto exert force on the one end of the boundary line.

A method for peeling according to a thirty-third aspect of the presentinvention is a method for peeling the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer off a package according to the twenty-ninth or thethirtieth aspect mentioned above, comprising: a step of excising thepart of the outside area along the perforations; and a step of turningup or pulling the front side part and the rear side part of thelaminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion remaining after theexcision of the part of the outside area so as to exert force on the oneend of the boundary line.

A bag according to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention ismade of one laminated film. The laminated film comprises: anouter-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; andan intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and thewater-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layeradhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-solublefilm directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other asto be peelable. The laminated film is formed in the shape of a tubelined with the water-soluble film in such a manner that: (a) a firststrip portion of the laminated film and a second strip portion of thelaminated film are superposed on each other so that the correspondingportions of the water-soluble film of the first and second stripportions face to each other; and the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the first and second strip portions are fused toeach other by heat-sealing. A prescribed portion of the tube isheat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing to eachother at the prescribed portion are fused to each other in such a mannerthat an area destined to accommodate a commodity in the tube is occludedrelative to the side of a first end part side of the tube, thereby thelaminated film is formed in the shape of a bag in which the areadestined to accommodate the commodity is opened from a second end partside of the tube. One end of the boundary line between the tube and aheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and second strip portionsreaches the first end part side. A non-heat-sealed portion is formed inan outside area in the tube which is positioned outside the heat-sealedportion occluding the area destined to accommodate the commodityrelative to the side of the first end part side. The non-heat-sealedportion is formed either on one side of the boundary line so as to becontiguous to the boundary line or on both sides of the boundary lineastride the boundary line. A part of the peripheral edge of thenon-heat-sealed portion includes one end of the boundary line and formsat least part of the first end part side.

A bag according to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention is abag according to the thirty-fourth aspect mentioned above, wherein aheat-sealed portion is formed in the outside area in the tube so that anon-heat-sealed portion having a hermetically sealed periphery isinterposed between the non-heat-sealed portion and the heat-sealedportion occluding the area destined to accommodate the commodityrelative to the side of the first end part side.

A bag according to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention is abag according to the thirty-fourth or the thirty-fifth aspect mentionedabove, wherein the non-heat-sealed portion, of which the part of theperipheral edge forms at least part of the first end part side, areformed in the shape of a strip along the first end part side and haswidth of 5 mm or more and 5 cm or less. This width is preferably 7 mm ormore and 5 cm or less, more preferably 1 cm or more and 5 cm or less.

A bag according to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention ismade of one laminated film. The laminated film comprises: anouter-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; andan intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and thewater-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layeradhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-solublefilm directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other asto be peelable. The laminated film is formed in the shape of a tubelined with the water-soluble film in such a manner that: (a) a firststrip portion of the laminated film and a second strip portion of thelaminated film are superposed on each other so that the correspondingportions of the water-soluble film of the first and second stripportions face to each other; and (b) the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the first and second strip portions are fused toeach other by heat-sealing of the tube is heat-sealed so that the partsof the water-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portionare fused to each other in such a manner that an area destined toaccommodate a commodity in the tube is occluded relative to the side ofa first end part side of the tube, thereby the laminated film is formedin the shape of a bag in which the area destined to accommodate thecommodity is opened from a second end part side of the tube. Aheat-sealed portion is formed so as to give rise to a non-heat-sealedportion having a hermetically sealed periphery in an outside area in thetube which is positioned outside the heat-sealed portion occluding thearea destined to accommodate the commodity relative to the side of thefirst end part side. The non-heat-sealed portion is formed either on oneside of the boundary line between the tube and a heat-sealed portionconsisting of the first and second strip portions so as to be contiguousto the boundary line or on both sides of the boundary line astride theboundary line. Perforations for excising a part of the outside area inthe tube and a part of an area of the heat-sealed portion consisting ofthe first and the second strip portions corresponding to the outsidearea are formed in those areas. One end of the boundary line remainingafter the excision of the part of the outside area in the tube and thepart of the area of the heat-sealed portion consisting of the first andthe second strip portions corresponding to the outside area reaches theperforations. A part of peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portionin the outside area in the tube remaining after the excision of the partof the outside area in the tube and the part of the area of theheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and the second stripportions corresponding to the outside area coincides with theperforations.

A bag according to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention is abag according to any of the thirty-fourth through the thirty-seventhaspects mentioned above, wherein the heat-sealed portion consisting ofthe first and the second strip portions constitutes a backlining part,and the bag is a backlining type bag.

A bag according to a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention is abag according to any of the thirty-fourth through the thirty-eighthaspects mentioned above, wherein the bag is a gusset-type bag providedwith gusset parts.

A package according to a fortieth aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of one laminated film; and aprescribed commodity placed in the bag. The laminated film comprises: anouter-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; andan intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and thewater-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layeradhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-solublefilm directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other asto be peelable. The laminated film is formed in the shape of a tubelined with the water-soluble film in such a manner that: (a) a firststrip portion of the laminated film and a second strip portion of thelaminated film are superposed on each other so that the correspondingportions of the water-soluble film of the first and second stripportions face to each other; and (b) the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the first and second strip portions are fused toeach other by heat-sealing. Prescribed portions of the tube areheat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film facing to eachother at the prescribed portions are fused to each other in such amanner that an area accommodating the commodity in the tube is occludedrelative to the side of a first end part side of the tube and the sideof a second end part side of the tube. One end of the boundary linebetween the tube and a heat-sealed portion consisting of the first andsecond strip portions reaches the first end part side. A non-heat-sealedportion is formed in an outside area in the tube which is positionedoutside the heat-sealed portion occluding the area accommodating thecommodity relative to the side of the first end part side. Thenon-heat-sealed portion is formed either on one side of the boundaryline so as to be contiguous to the boundary line or on both sides of theboundary line astride the boundary line. A part of the peripheral edgeof the non-heat-sealed portion includes one end of the boundary line andforms at least part of the first end part side.

A package according to a forty-first aspect of the present invention isa package according to the fortieth aspect mentioned above, wherein aheat-sealed portion is formed in the outside area in the tube so that anon-heat-sealed portion having a hermetically sealed periphery isinterposed between the non-heat-sealed portion and the heat-sealedportion occluding the area accommodating the commodity relative to theside of the first end part side.

A package according to a forty-second aspect of the present invention isa package according to the fortieth or the forty-first aspect mentionedabove, wherein the non-heat-sealed portion, of which the part of theperipheral edge forms at least part of the first end part side, areformed in the shape of a strip along the first end part side and haswidth of 5 mm or more and 5 cm or less. This width is preferably 7 mm ormore and 5 cm or less, more preferably 1 cm or more and 5 cm or less.

A package according to a forty-third aspect of the present inventioncomprises: a hermetically sealed bag made of one laminated film; and aprescribed commodity placed in the bag. The laminated film comprises: anouter-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; andan intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and thewater-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layeradhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-solublefilm directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other asto be peelable. The laminated film is formed in the shape of a tubelined with the water-soluble film in such a manner that: (a) a firststrip portion of the laminated film and a second strip portion of thelaminated film are superposed on each other so that the correspondingportions of the water-soluble film of the first and second stripportions face to each other; and (b) the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the first and second strip portions are fused toeach other by heat-sealing. Pre of the tube are heat-sealed so that theparts of the water-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribedportions are fused to each other in such a manner that an areaaccommodating the commodity in the tube is occluded relative to the sideof a first end part side of the tube and the side of a second end partside of the tube. A heat-sealed portion is formed so as to give rise toa non-heat-sealed portion having a hermetically sealed periphery in anoutside area in the tube which is positioned outside the heat-sealedportion occluding the area accommodating the commodity relative to theside of the first end part side. The non-heat-sealed portion is formedeither on one side of the boundary line between the tube and aheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and second strip portions soas to be contiguous to the boundary line or on both sides of theboundary line astride the boundary line. Perforations for excising apart of the outside area in the tube and a part of an area of theheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and the second stripportions corresponding to the outside area are formed in those areas.One end of the boundary line remaining after the excision of the part ofthe outside area in the tube and the part of the area of the heat-sealedportion consisting of the first and the second strip portionscorresponding to the outside area reaches the perforations. A part ofperipheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion in the outside area inthe tube remaining after the excision of the part of the outside area inthe tube and the part of the area of the heat-sealed portion consistingof the first and the second strip portions corresponding to the outsidearea coincides with the perforations.

A package according to a forty-fourth aspect of the present invention isa package according to any of the fortieth through forty-third aspectsmentioned above, wherein the heat-sealed portion consisting of the firstand the second strip portions constitutes a backlining part, and the bagis a backlining-type bag.

A package according to a forty-fifth aspect of the present invention isa package according to any of the fortieth through the forty-fourthaspects mentioned above, wherein the bag is a gusset-type bag providedwith gusset parts.

A method for peeling according to a forty-sixth aspect of the presentinvention is a method for peeling the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer off a package according to any of the fortieththrough the forty-second aspects mentioned above, comprising: a step ofeither pulling the parts of the laminated film positioned on the bothsides of the boundary line in the non-heat-sealed portion of which thepart of the peripheral edge forms at least part of the first end partside or turning up the parts of the laminated film overlapping mutuallyin the non-heat-sealed portion of which the part of the peripheral edgeforms at least part of the first end part side, so as to exert force onthe one end of the boundary line.

A method for peeling according to a forty-seventh aspect of the presentinvention is a method for peeling the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer off a package according to the forty-third aspectmentioned above, comprising: a step of excising along the perforationsthe part of the outside area in the tube and the part of the area of theheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and the second stripportions corresponding to the outside area; and a step of either pullingthe parts of the laminated film positioned on the both sides of theboundary line in the non-heat-sealed portion in the outside area in thetube remaining after the excision of the part of the outside area in thetube and the part of the area of the heat-sealed portion consisting ofthe first and the second strip portions corresponding to the outsidearea or turning up the parts of the laminated film overlapping mutuallyin the non-heat-sealed portion in the outside area in the tube remainingafter the excision of the part of the outside area in the tube and thepart of the area of the heat-sealed portion consisting of the first andthe second strip portions corresponding to the outside area, so as toexert force on the one end of the boundary line.

A method for producing a laminated film according to a forty-eighthaspect of the present invention is a method according to any of thesixth through the ninth aspects mentioned above, further comprising astep of drying the water-soluble film which is performed prior to thecompression.

In the sixteenth through the forty-seventh aspects mentioned above, thelaminated film mentioned above may be the laminated film according toany of the first through fifth aspects mentioned above. In the sixteenththrough the forty-seventh aspects mentioned above, however, theintermediate layer does not need to be an intermediate layer whichcontains high-pressure polyethylene oxidized to a prescribed degree atleast on the surface thereof contiguous to the water-soluble film butmay be an adhesive layer, for example.

The bags according to the sixteenth through the twenty-third aspects andthe thirty-fourth through the thirty-ninth aspects mentioned above openon one side and are generally supplied from a manufacturer of bags to amanufacture of commodities in the bag supplying method alreadydescribed, whereas the packages according to the twenty-fourth throughthe thirty-first aspects and the fortieth through the forty-fifthaspects mentioned above comprise a hermetically sealed bag and anprescribed commodity placed in the bag and are in the form of a finishedproduct when they reach the users of the accommodated commodity. Thus,they are practically identical to each other. When the bags according tothe sixteenth through the twenty-third aspects and the thirty-fourththrough the thirty-ninth aspects mentioned above reach the users of theaccommodated commodity in the form of the packages according to thetwenty-fourth through the thirty-first aspects and the fortieth throughthe forty-fifth aspects mentioned above. The packages according to thetwenty-fourth through the thirty-first aspects and the fortieth throughthe forty-fifth aspects mentioned above may be produced by using thebags according to the sixteenth through the twenty-third aspects and thethirty-fourth through the thirty-ninth aspects mentioned above. They maybe produced in accordance with the automatic packaging method mentionedabove.

In the laminated film to be used in the bag and the package according tothe sixteenth through the thirty-first aspects and the fortieth throughthe forty-fifth aspects mentioned above, the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer adhere fast to each other, and the intermediate layerand the water-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere soweakly to each other as to peelable. The bag of the package using thislaminated film, therefore, has a double-wall structure consisting of theouter-layer-film and the intermediate layer (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “outer bag film” for the sake of explanation) whichadhere fast to each other and act as an outer bag and the water-solublefilm which acts as an inner bag. In this structure, the outer bag filmand the water-soluble film adhere so weakly to each other as to bepeelable. The user of the commodity in the package, therefore, is onlyrequired to peel the outer bag film in gaining access to the commodityaccommodated in the inner bag of the water-soluble film similarly to theaforementioned composite package consisting of an inner bag and an outerbag. When the commodity happens to be agricultural chemicals, the outerbag does not suffer the commodity to drift up when it is peeled and theinner bag still accommodating the commodity can be placed in a tank anddiluted with the water placed in the tank (because the inner bag made ofthe water-soluble film dissolves on contact with water). This package,therefore, ensures perfect ease of handling because the commodityaccommodated therein no longer has the possibility of doing harm to theuser's system or jeopardizing the safety. Since the laminated film usedin the present invention can be handled during the insertion of thecommodity therein in the same manner as the conventional laminated film,the existing automatic machines and other devices can be used in theirunmodified form. The bag incurs no noticeable addition to the cost ofproduction because it obviates the necessity of separately producinginner bags unlike the aforementioned composite bag consisting of aninner bag and an outer bag.

When the user of the commodity which is accommodated in the packageaccording to the twenty-fourth through the twenty-eighth aspectsmentioned above stands in need of peeling the outer bag film to gainaccess to the commodity, he has only to turn up or pull the front sidepart and the rear side part of the laminated film in the non-heat-sealedportion in the outside area mentioned above so as to exert force on theone end of the boundary line in the same manner as in the thirty-secondaspect mentioned above. When the laminated films are turned up, the partnear the one end of the boundary line in the water-soluble film movestoward the foreground side and the part near the one end of the boundaryline of the outer bag film (the outer-layer-film and the intermediatelayer) of the front and the rear laminated film turns up outwardlybecause the water-soluble film has expansibility and contractility andalso because the water-soluble film of the front and the rear laminatedfilm in the heat-sealed portion bordering on the boundary line are fusedto each other. As a result, a gap originates near the one end of theboundary line and then continues to grow between the water-soluble filmand the outer bag film. When the laminated films are pulled, a gapgradually grows between the water-soluble film and the outer bag film inthe part near the one end of the boundary line because the water-solublefilm stretches in a larger amount than the outer bag film. The outer bagfilm, therefore, can be easily peeled by using the gap as a beginningfor peeling the outer bag film.

When the part of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion in theoutside area, which confronts the boundary line, forms the part of theouter edge of the bag on which the front side part of the laminated filmand the rear side part of the laminated film or coincides with at leasta part of the slit as in the twenty-fifth or the twenty-seventh aspectmentioned above, the outer bag film can be peeled more easily becausethe gap is enlarged to the corner part of the heat-sealed portion byincreasing the amounts of the laminated films on the front and the rearside in the non-heat-sealed portions in the outside area to be turned upor pull. In this case, when, of the part of the heat-sealed portion inthe outside area that lies along the boundary line, at least the partthereof which is positioned on the side of the one end of the boundaryline has a narrow width as in the twenty-sixth and the twenty-eighthaspects mentioned above, the outer bag film can be peeled more easilybecause the gap is enlarged to the corner part of the heat-sealedportion even if the amount to be turned up or pulled is small.

When the user of the commodity accommodated in the package according tothe twenty-ninth and the thirtieth aspects mentioned above stands inneed of peeling the outer bag film to gain access to the commodity, heis first required to excise (or cut off) the part of the outside areaalong the perforations as in the thirty-third aspect mentioned above. Asa result, the package becomes the same state as the package according tothe twenty-fourth through the twenty-eighth aspects mentioned above.When the front side part and the rear side part of the laminated filmsin the non-heat-sealed portion remaining after the excision of the partof the outside area are subsequently turned up or pulled so as to exertforce on the one end of the boundary line in the same manner as in thethirty-third aspect mentioned above, a gap originates near the one endof the boundary line and then continues to grow between thewater-soluble film and the outer bag film. As a result, the outer bagfilm can be easily peeled by using the gap as a beginning for peelingthe outer bag film. In the case of the twenty-ninth and the thirtiethaspects mentioned above, there is no possibility that the water-solublefilm in the non-heat-sealed portion will be degraded by the ambientcondition because the non-heat-sealed portions are enclosed with theheat-sealed portions and so the water-soluble film in thenon-heat-sealed portion is opened into the ambience except for theperforations.

When the user of the commodity accommodated in the package according tothe thirty-first aspect mentioned above stands in need of peeling theouter bag film to gain access to the commodity, he is first required tofold the bag along the slit. As a result, the outer bag film is peeledoff the water-soluble film and floats up in the part lying along theslit. The outer bag film, therefore, can be easily peeled by using thefloating part as a beginning for peeling the outer bag film.

When the user of the commodity accommodated in the package according tothe fortieth through the forty-second aspects mentioned above stands inneed of peeling the outer bag film to gain access to the commodity, heis only required to pull the parts of the laminated film positioned onthe both sides of the boundary line in the non-heat-sealed portion ofwhich the part of the peripheral edge forms at least part of the firstend part side or to turn up the parts of the laminated film overlappingmutually in the non-heat-sealed portion of which the part of theperipheral edge forms at least part of the first end part side, so as toexert force on the one end of the boundary line, in the same manner asin the forty-sixth aspect mentioned above. As a result, a gap originatesnear the one end of the boundary line and then continues to grow betweenthe water-soluble film and the outer bag film in a manner similar to thepackage according to the twenty-fourth through the twenty-eighth aspectmentioned above. The outer bag film, therefore, can be peeled easily byusing the gap as a beginning for peeling the outer bag film.

When the user of the commodity accommodated in the package according tothe forty-third through the forty-fourth aspects mentioned above standsin need of peeling the outer bag film to gain access to the commodity,he is first required to excise (or cut off) along the perforations thepart of the outside area in the tube and the part of the area of theheat-sealed portion consisting of the first and the second stripportions corresponding to the outside area in the same manner as in theforty-seventh aspect mentioned above. Consequently, the package becomesthe same state as the package according to the fortieth through theforty-second aspects mentioned above. The outer bag film, therefore, canbe easily peeled thereafter in the same manner as the package accordingto the fortieth through the forty-second aspects mentioned above.

Incidentally, in the case of the thirty-fifth and forty-first aspectsmentioned above, the area destined to accommodate a prescribed commodityis occluded at least doubly by the heat-sealed portions relative to thefirst end part side. Even when the water-soluble film in thenon-heat-sealed portion approximating most to the first end part sidehappens to be degraded by the ambient condition, there is no possibilitythat this degradation extends to affect the area designed to accommodatethe commodity.

When the non-heat-sealed portion, of which the part of the peripheraledge forms at least part of the first end part side, are formed in theshape of a strip along the first end part side in the same manner as inthe thirty-sixth and the forty-second aspects mentioned above, it ispreferable that the non-heat-sealed portion has a width of not less than5 mm because the laminated films in the non-heat-sealed portion can begripped in a hand so easily as to render the peeling of the outer bagfilm more easily. If the width of the non-heat-sealed portion is undulylarge, the part incapable of contributing to the accommodation of thecommodity in the package will unduly increase. Therefore, the width ofthe non-heat-sealed portion is preferably not more than 5 cm.

The bag and the package according to the sixteenth through thethirty-first aspects mentioned above may be made of two mutuallyseparate laminated films one each on the front and the rear side or ofone laminated film. The bag and the package according to thethirty-fourth through the forth-fifth aspects mentioned above are madeof one laminated film. In the bag and the package made of one laminatedfilm, the number of edge parts that constitute themselves folded ends islarger than in those made of two laminated films. In the edge partswhich neither constitute themselves a folded end nor providecontinuation between the laminated films on the front and the rear side,the outer bag film tends to separate accidentally because the edge partspossibly attract force, sustain fracture, or gather wrinkles. In thefolded edge, there is no possibility that the outer bag film isaccidentally separated. The bag and the package made of one laminatedfilm, therefore, are at an advantage in having less possibility ofsuffering the outer bag film to incur accidental separation during thecourse of transportation than the bag and the package which are made oftwo laminated films. When the bag and the package made of one laminatedfilm is constituted as backlining-type as in the thirty-eighth and theforty-fourth aspects mentioned above, the possibility of the outer bagfilm being accidentally separated as during the course of transportationis further decreased as compared with the bag and the package which arenot backlining-type because the number of folded edges is increased andthe number of edge parts providing no continuation between the laminatedfilms on the front and the rear side is decreased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating schematically a laminated filmaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating schematically a part of the process forthe production of a laminated film according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating schematically a part of the process forthe production of a laminated film according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating schematically a part of the process forthe production of a laminated film according to still another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a laminated film taken up in the shapeof a roll;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a further embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a bag provided with a beginning forpeeling an outer bag film according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another laminated film taken up in theshape of a roll;

FIG. 12A is a schematic side view illustrating a bag according to afurther embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12B is a schematic plan view illustrating the bag shown in FIG.12A;

FIG. 13A is a plan view illustrating a laminated film superposed andpartly heat-sealed;

FIG. 13B is a view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lineX1-X1′ in FIG. 13A;

FIG. 13C is a diagram illustrating a process of peeling of the outer bagfilm;

FIG. 13D is a diagram illustrating a process of peeling subsequent tothat of peeling shown in FIG. 13C;

FIG. 14A is a plan view illustrating a laminated film superposed andpartly heat-sealed;

FIG. 14B is a view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lineX2-X2′ in FIG. 14A;

FIG. 14C is a diagram illustrating a process of separation occurring inthe outer bag film;

FIG. 14D is a diagram illustrating a process of peeling subsequent tothat of peeling shown in FIG. 14C;

FIG. 15A is a plan view illustrating a laminated film superposed andpartly heat-sealed;

FIG. 15B is a cross section taken along the line X3-X3′ in FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating a process of peeling the outer bagfilm;

FIG. 15D is a plan view illustrating a laminated film superposed andpartly heat-sealed;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 26A is a perspective view illustrating a laminated film superposed,partly heat-sealed, and opened;

FIG. 26B is a view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lineX4-X4′ in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 26C is a diagram illustrating a process of peeling the outer bagfilm;

FIG. 26D is a diagram illustrating the process of peeling subsequent tothat of peeling shown in FIG. 26C;

FIG. 27A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 27A;

FIG. 28A is a view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lineX5-X5′ in FIG. 27A;

FIG. 28B is a diagram illustrating a first specific method for peelingthe outer bag film;

FIG. 28C is a diagram illustrating a second specific method for peelingthe outer bag film;

FIG. 29A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 29A;

FIG. 30A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 30A;

FIG. 31A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 31B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 31A;

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 33B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 33A;

FIG. 34A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 34A;

FIG. 35A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 35B is a developed diagram of the bag shown in FIG. 35A;

FIG. 36A is a diagram illustrating a bag according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 36B is a developed view of the bag shown in FIG. 36A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the laminated film, the method for the production thereof, the bagand the package formed with the laminated film, and the method forpeeling thereof according to the present invention will be describedspecifically below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating schematically a laminated filmaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The laminated film according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.1, is composed of an outer-layer-film 20, a water-soluble film 6, and anintermediate layer 5 interposed between the outer-layer-film 20 and thewater-soluble film 6, the intermediate layer 5 containing high-pressurepolyethylene oxidized to a prescribed degree at least on the surfacethereof contiguous to the water-soluble film 6. The outer-layer-film 20and the intermediate layer 5 adhere fast to each other. The intermediatelayer 5 and the water-soluble film 6 contact directly each other andadhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable.

In the present embodiment, the outer-layer-film 20 is composed of asubstrative film 10 and an anchor coat agent layer. The substrative film10 is obtained by dry-laminating a polyester film 1, an adhesive layer2, and an aluminum-evaporated polyester film 3. The anchor coat agentlayer 4 is intended to improve the fastness of adhesion between thealuminum-evaporated polyester film 3 and the intermediate layer 5.

Specifically, a commercially available PET^(#12) produced by UnitikaLtd. of Japan and marketed under trademark designation of “EmbletPolyester Film” is used as the polyester film 1. A commerciallyavailable MLPET^(#12) produced by Tohcello Co., Ltd. of Japan andmarketed under trademark designation of “MLPET-C” is used as thealuminum-evaporated polyester film 3.

The intermediate layer 5 is produced by preparing as the materialtherefor either a commercially available LDPE (high-pressure low-densitypolyethylene), one species of high-pressure polyethylene, produced byNippon Polyolefins Co., Ltd. (a company established by amalgamationbetween the resin divisions of Showa Denko K. K. and the resin divisionsof Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.) of Japan and marketed under productcode of “L178”, or a mixture combining the product just mentioned and acommercially available ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer produced byMitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd. of Japan and marketed undertrademark designation of “Tafmer” at such a varying ratio asspecifically described below and forming this material in the form of alayer, 20 μm in thickness by the extrusion lamination.

A polyvinyl alcohol film produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd. of Japan is usedas the water-soluble film 6.

The present inventors actually produced a plurality of kinds of thelaminate film of the structure described above, with part of theprescribed production conditions and the material for the intermediatelayer 5 varied as specifically described below. The method for thisproduction is as follows. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustratinga part of the process of the production.

First, the substrative film 10 was prepared by dry-laminating “EmbletPET” (polyester film 1) and “MLPET-C” (aluminum-evaporated polyesterfilm 3) through the adhesive 2. Then, it was forwarded via a guideroller 31 of a laminating device 30 and guided to the position between apressure roller 32 and a cooling roller 33 of the laminating device 30.The substrative film 10 was disposed with the “MLPET-C”(aluminum-evaporated polyester film 3) side thereof held on the upperside in FIG. 2. The substrative film 10 was already coated on the uppersurface thereof with the anchor coat agent 4 by means of a coatingroller not shown and, therefore, was completed as the outer-layer-film20. Meanwhile, the polyvinyl alcohol film produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd.(the water-soluble film 6) was forwarded via a guiding roller 34 of thelaminating device 30 and guided from the side opposite theouter-layer-film 20 to the position between the pressure roller 32 andthe cooling roller 33. Simultaneously, from above the positionintervening between the pressure roller 32 and the cooling roller 33, amolten intermediate layer substance (the substance destined to form theintermediate layer 5) which will be specifically described below wasextruded toward the position between the outer-layer-film 20 and thepolyvinyl alcohol film 6 in the form of a film by an extruding device40. As a result, the outer-layer-film 20, the film of the intermediatelayer substance, and the polyvinyl alcohol film 6 were compressed whilecooled by the pressure roller 32 and the cooling roller 33 andconsequently converted to the laminated film shown in FIG. 1 mentionedabove. The laminated film was guided to a guide roller 35 and taken upas shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 11 as will be specifically described below.

The extruding device 40 used herein was of a type qualified by L/D=32and D=90 mm (diameter), wherein L is the length of a screw and D is thediameter of the screw. The pulling out speed of the laminating device 30was set at 100 m/min.

The intermediate layer substance (the substance destined to form theintermediate layer 5) was varied in four kinds, A, B, C, and D. For eachof the kinds, the temperature of the intermediate layer substance priorto the departure from the extruding device 40 was varied in threemagnitudes, 320° C., 325° C., and 330° C. With all the other conditionsset equally, a total of eight kinds of the laminated film of thestructure shown in FIG. 1 were produced.

Here, the intermediate layer substance A was a pure substance consistingof 100% by weight of “L178” (high-pressure polyethylene), theintermediate layer substance B was a mixture consisting of 97% by weightof “L178” and 3% by weight of “Tafmer” (ethylene.α-olefin copolymerelastomer), the intermediate layer substance C was a mixture consistingof 95% by weight of “L178” and 5% by weight of “Tafmer,” and theintermediate layer substance C was a mixture consisting of 90% by weightof “L178” and 10% by weight of “Tafmer.”

In the eight kinds of the laminated film obtained as described above,the peel strength (adhesive force or adhesive strength) between thewater-soluble film 6 and the film consisting of the outer-layer-film 20and the intermediate layer 5 varied as shown in Table 1. The peelstrength was measured by the use of a horizontal tensile strength testerproduced by Tester Sangyo Co., Ltd. of Japan under the conditions of180° peel and 15 mm width in accordance with JIS (Japanese IndustrialStandard) P8113. In each kind of the laminated film, several tens ofpieces were cut from varying portions and measured for peel strength. InTable 1, for each kind of the laminated film, the range of numericalvalues found by the measurement of the individual pieces is shown.

TABLE 1 Peel strength (Adhesive force)(Unit: g/115 mm) TemperatureSpecies 320° C. 325° C. 330° C. A 0.2~3.2 9.5~21.1  9.0~40.3 B 1.2~4.56.5~22.0 14.0~32.0 C 1.1~4.0 7.0~20.3 18.5~32.0 D 0.8~4.0 3.2~22.015.0~28.5

It is noted from Table 1 that the peel strength was varied depending onthe mixing ratio of the ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer to thehigh-pressure polyethylene in the inter-mediate layer 5. It is alsonoted that the peel strength increases with increased temperature of theinter-mediate substance rose. This relationship implies that the peelstrength can be exalted by increasing the amount of oxidation of thehigh-pressure polyethylene because the fact that the amount of thermaloxidation of the high-pressure polyethylene increases as the temperaturerises is self-evident. From the data shown in the table, it is foundthat the all the magnitudes of peel strength obtained in the test rangedfrom 0.2 to 40.3 g/15 mm. In the present specification, the adhesiveforce of weak union is not limited to this particular range.

The phenomenon that the components of the intermediate layer 5 remain onthe water-soluble film 6 after the film consisting of theouter-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5 is peeled from thewater-soluble film 6 was not recognized in the test.

No change of peel strength was observed after the bag produced in ahermetically sealed state with the laminated film using the intermediatelayer substance A under the condition of 330° C. was left standing for48 hours in the environment kept at 90% of humidity and normal roomtemperature and after the bag was left standing for three weeks in theenvironment kept at 30% of humidity and normal room temperature.

Since the peel strength is increased by increasing the amount ofoxidation of the high-pressure polyethylene, the temperature of theintermediate layer substance may be further elevated, and/or theintermediate layer substance may be subjected to forced oxidation byblowing ozone against the inter-mediate substance held in a molten statebesides the thermal oxidation, where the peel strength is required to begreater.

The forced oxidation with ozone may be effected, for example, byinstalling a corona-treating device 50 as shown in FIG. 3 and causingthe ozone emitted from the corona-treating device 50 to be blown againstthe water-soluble film 6 side surface of the intermediate layersubstance extruded in the shape of a film from the extruding device 40.In this case, since the corona-treating device 50 is used to generateozone and since the generation of ozone necessitates corona discharge,the corona treatment with the corona-treating device 50 is effected onthe intermediate layer substance before the water-soluble film 6 isjoined thereto by compression. It is inferred that the adhesive forcebetween the water-soluble film 6 and the intermediate layer 5 can beadjusted by virtue of the physical changes (such as, for example,surface coarsening) caused on the surface of the water-soluble film 6 inconsequence of the corona treatment. Instead of using thecorona-treating device 50, an ozone-generating device (not shown) may beused for the purpose of blowing ozone against the water-soluble film 6side surface of the intermediate layer substance extruded in the shapeof a film from the extruding device 40. It is permissible to utilize thecorona-treating device 50 for effecting the corona treatment of thewater-soluble film 6 and, at the same time, allowing the ozonedischarged from the corona-treating device 50 to be released directlyinto the ambience without being blown against the intermediate layersubstance extruded in the shape of a film from the extruding device 40.

It has been found by a test that the adhesive force between thewater-soluble film 6 and the intermediate layer 5 is lowered as thewater content of the water-soluble film 6 is increased. Appropriately,for the purpose of retaining the adhesive force stably at a level aimedat, the water-soluble film 6 is stored in a humidity adjusting chamberand allowed to acquire and retain the water content at a prescribedlevel in advance of regular storage. Even after the water-soluble film 6has been stored as described above, it possibly has the water contentthereof varied by the ambient humidity during the production of thelaminated film. Where this possibility exists, a drying chamber 2000 maybe installed as shown in FIG. 4 and the water-soluble film 6 may bedried by being passed through this drying chamber 2000 and consequentlyenabled to retain the adhesive force stably at the prescribed levelbefore it is subjected to lamination. Incidentally, the drying chamber2000 may be formed with a far infrared generating device, for example.

As laminated films according to the other embodiments of the presentinvention, the present inventors manufactured other various kinds oflaminated film (laminated films of Sample No. 1-19) sharing the basicstructure of FIG. 1 mentioned above. The laminated films of Sample No.1-19 were tested for peel strength (adhesive force or adhesive strength)between the film consisting of the outer-layer-film 20 and theintermediate layer 5 and the water-soluble film 6. The results of thistest are shown in Table 2 below. For the measurement of the peelstrength in this case, the same method as used in the measurement ofpeel strength whose results are shown in Table 1 was adopted. Themeasurement of peel strength whose results are shown in Table 2 wasconducted on the laminated films after the films had been kept standingin a temperature retaining chamber kept at 40° C. for 48 hours aftertheir manufacture.

TABLE 2 Corona Peel Sample Intermediate layer treatment strength No.[L178] (wt %) [Tafmer] (wt %) (KW) (g/15 mm) 1 100 0 0 25~40 2 100 0 1.055~70 3 100 0 1.5 130~140 4 100 0 1.8 135~180 5 97 3 0 40~75 6 95 5 050~9O 7 90 10 0 55~75 8 90 10 1.5  85~150 9 90 10 2.5 120~175 10 90 103.0 200~250 11 100 0 0 30~35 12 100 0 1.0 125~150 13 100 0 1.5 110~12014 97 3 0 25~60 15 95 5 0 45~75 16 90 10 0 50~55 17 90 10 1.5 135~170 1890 10 2.5 200~255 19 90 10 3.0 200~335

The laminated films of Sample No. 1-19 used a commercially availablepolyvinyl alcohol film, 35 μm in thickness, produced by Tohcello Co.,Ltd. of Japan and marketed under trademark designation of “Tosslon ET-20#35” as the water-soluble film 6.

In the laminated films of Sample No. 1˜10, the outer-layer-film 20 wascomposed of a substrative film 10 obtained by dry-laminating a polyesterfilm 1, an adhesive agent layer 2, and a aluminum-evaporated polyesterfilm 3, and an anchor coat agent layer 4 serving to enhance the fastnessof union between the aluminum-evaporated polyester film 3 and theintermediate layer 5. In the laminated films of Sample No. 1-10, acommercially available PET^(#12) produced by Unitika Ltd. of Japan andmarketed under trademark designation of “Emblet PET” was used as thepolyester film 1 and a commercially available MLPET^(#12) produced byTohcello Co., Ltd. of Japan and marketed under trademark designation of“MLPET-C” was used as the aluminum-evaporated polyester film 3.

In the laminated films of Sample No. 11-19, the outer-layer-film 20 wascomposed of a substrative film 10 obtained by extrusion laminating apolyester film 1, a high-pressure polyethylene film 2, and an aluminumfoil 3 and an anchor coat agent layer 4. In the laminated films ofSample No. 11-19, a commercially available PET^(#12) produced by UnitikaLtd. of Japan and marketed under trademark designation of “Emblet PET”was used as the polyester film 1, a commercially available LDPE(high-pressure low-density polyethylene), 25 μm in thickness, producedby Nippon Polyolefins Co., Ltd. (a company established by amalgamationbetween the resin divisions of Showa Denko K. K. and the resin divisionsof Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.) of Japan and marketed under productcode of “L178” was used as the high-pressure polyethylene film 2, and acommercially available aluminum foil, 7 μm in thickness, produced byShowa Aluminum Co., Ltd. of Japan was used as the aluminum foil 3.

In the laminated films of Sample No. 1-19, the intermediate layer 5 wasproduced by preparing as the material therefor either a commerciallyavailable LDPE (high-pressure low-density process polyethylene), onespecies of high-pressure polyethylene, produced by Japan PolyolefinsCo., Ltd. of Japan and marketed under product code of “L178” or amixture combining the product just mentioned and a commerciallyavailable ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer produced by MitsuiPetrochemical Industries, Ltd. of Japan and marketed under trademarkdesignation of “Tafmer” at such a varying ratio as specificallydescribed below and forming this material in the form of a layer, 20 μmin thickness by the extrusion lamination.

The intermediate layer substance for the intermediate layer 5 was formedof 100% by weight of “L178” in the laminated films of Sample No. 1, 2,3, 4, 11, 12, and 13, a mixture of 97% by weight of “L178” and 3% byweight of “Tafmer” in the laminated films of Sample No. 5 and 14, amixture of 95% by weight of “L178” and 5% by weight of “Tafmer” in thelaminated films of Sample No. 6 and 15, and a mixture of 90% by weightof “L178” and 10% by weight of “Tafmer” in the laminated films of SampleNo. 7-10, and 16-19.

The laminated films of Sample No. 1-19 were produced by such a method asused in the production described above with reference to FIG. 2. In theproduction of the laminated films of Sample No. 2-4, 8-10, 12, 13, 17,and 19, such a corona treating device 50 as shown in FIG. 3 was used toeffect a corona treatment on the water-soluble film 6. The ozone whichwas issued from the corona treating device 50 was not blown against theintermediate layer substance extruded in the shape of film from theextruding device 40 but was released directly into the ambient air. Inthis case, a commercially available machine produced by Tomoe Kogyo K.K.of Japan and marketed under trademark designation of “Roll ElectrodeStation” was used as the corona treating device 50. The corona treatmentwas carried out at 1.0 KW in the production of the laminated films ofSample No. 2 and 12, at 1.5 KW in the production of the laminated filmsof Sample No. 3, 8, 13, and 17, at 1.8 KW in the production of thelaminated film of Sample No. 4, at 2.5 KW in the production of thelaminated films of Sample No. 9 and 18, and at 3.0 KW in the productionof the laminated films of Sample No. 10 and 19. In the production of thelaminated films of Sample No. 1, 5-7, 11, and 14-16, no corona treatmentwas conducted on the water-soluble film 6.

In the production of the laminated films of Sample No. 1-19, theextruding device 40 was of a type qualified by L/D=32 and D=90 mm(diameter) and the pulling out speed of the laminating device 30 was setat 100 m/min. In the production of the laminated films of Sample No.1-19, the temperature of the intermediate layer substance (the substancedestined to form the intermediate layer 5) prior to extruding from theextruding device 40 was set at 330° C.

It is noted from Table 2 that the peel strength varied with the mixingratio of the ethylene.α-olefin copolymer elastomer to the high-pressurepolyethylene in the intermediate layer 5, the presence or absence of thecorona treatment, and the degree of the corona treatment. In thelaminated films of Sample No. 1-19, the phenomenon that the componentsof the intermediate layer 5 remain on the water-soluble film 6 after thefilm consisting of the outer-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5is peeled from the water-soluble film 6 was not recognized.

As another example of the commercial product of the water-soluble film6, a commercially available polyvinyl alcohol film produced by KurarayCo., Ltd. of Japan and marketed under product code of “VF-HP” may becited.

Now, typical bags formed with the laminated film of the structure ofFIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. 5-FIG. 8.

FIG. 5 represents the laminated film of FIG. 1, which has thewater-soluble film 6 laminated on the outer-layer-film 20 throughout theentire surface thereof and is taken up in the shape of a roll. FIG.6-FIG. 8 represent examples of the bag made of the laminated film shownin FIG. 5. In these bags, the laminated film is formed in the shape of abag opened on one side thereof. In these bags, the laminated film issuperposed by folding so that the water-soluble film 6 is positionedinside, and prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film areheat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film 6 facing to eachother at the prescribed portions are fused to each other. In the bagshown in FIG. 6, the left side, right side, or lower side constitutesitself a folding line and a portion 1060 along the left side, a portion1061 along the right side, and a portion along the lower side areheat-sealed and the upper side is left open to give rise to what iscalled a three-side sealed bag. In the bag shown in FIG. 7, the rightside constitutes itself a folding line and a portion 1070 along the leftside and a portion 1071 along the right side are heat-sealed and theupper side is left open to give rise to what is called an L-shapedsealed bag. In the bag shown in FIG. 8, the left side and the rightsides each constitute a folding line and a backlining portion 1080 and aportion 1081 are heat-sealed and the upper side is left open to giverise to what is called a backlining-type bag. The shape of the bag isnot limited to the shapes mentioned above. Bags in arbitrarily selectedshapes including the gusset-type bag can be produced with the laminatedfilm of the present invention.

The bags shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 8 which open in the upper side, in thecase of the bag supplying method, are produced by a manufacturer of bagsand then supplied to a manufacture of commodities accommodated therein.In the case of the bag supplying method, the manufacturer of commoditiesplaces his commodities into the bags shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 8 through theopenings in the upper side and subsequently heat-seals the portions1063, 1072, and 1082 along the upper side to complete packages, i.e. theproducts in the finished state in which they reach users of thecommodities. In the case of the automatic packaging method, themanufacturer of commodities performs continuously the operation ofproducing bags shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 8 from the laminated film shown inFIG. 5, filling the bags with his commodities, and heat-sealing theportions 1063, 1072, and 1082 of the bags along the upper side.

The bag of the package is in a double-wall structure consisting of theouter-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5 (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “outer bag film 60” for the sake ofexplanation) which adhere fast to each other and function as an outerbag and the water-soluble film 6 which functions as an inner bag. Theouter bag film 60 and the water-soluble film 6 adhere so weakly to eachother as to be peelable. The user of the commodity in the package,therefore, has only to peel the outer bag film 60 to gain access to thecommodity accommodated in the inner bag formed of the water-soluble film6 like the aforementioned composite bag which consists of an inner bagand an outer bag.

With the packages using the bags which are shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 8, theusers of the commodities in the packages experience inconvenience inpeeling the outer bag film 60 because the packages lack a part whichbecomes a beginning for peeling the outer bag film 60. Now, the examplesshown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 which are provided with such a beginningwill be described below.

FIG. 9 illustrates what is obtained by forming perforations 1064 fortearing in the sealed portion 1062 in the three-side seal bag shown inFIG. 6. A notch 1065 is formed at the end part of the perforations 1064.In the package using the bag which is shown in FIG. 9, when the lowerportion of the heat-sealed portion 1062 is torn along the perforations1064, the outer bag film 60 and the water-soluble film 6 stretch inamounts different from each other and the stretched parts of the twofilms are consequently caused to separate from each other. The partsbecomes a beginning for peeling the outer bag film 60. The presentembodiment has an advantage in allowing the low potion to be easily tornalong the perforations 1064 because it is provided with the notch 1065.It nevertheless finds the formation of the notch 1065 indispensable. Theperforations 1064 and the notch 1065 may be formed after the bags havebeen filled with their commodities in the bags shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates what is obtained by also heat-sealing a portion 1067parallel to the portion 1062 extending along the lower side as separatedby a small distance from the portion 1062 thereby forming anon-heat-sealed portion 1068 enclosed with a heat-sealed portion and notdestined to accommodate a commodity and forming notches 1069 a and 1069b for tearing in the edge parts corresponding to the non-heat-sealedportion 1068 in the three-side seal bag shown in FIG. 6. The bag alsohas perforations 1069 c formed between the notches 1069 a and 1069 bacross the non-heat-sealed portion 1068. In the package using the bagwhich is shown in FIG. 10, when the bag is torn from the notch 1069 a orthe notch 1069 b through the perforations 1069 c to the non-heat-sealedportion 1068, the outer bag film 60 and the water-soluble film 6 stretchin amounts different from each other and, as a result, the stretchedparts of the two films are caused to separate from each other. The partsbecome a beginning for peeling the outer bag film 60. The presentembodiment has an advantage in allowing the bag to be easily torn alongthe perforations 1069 c because it is provided with the two notches 1069a and 1069 b. It nevertheless finds it permissible to omit one of thetwo notches 10609 a and 1069 b and the perforations 1069 c.

FIG. 11 illustrates the laminated film of the structure of FIG. 1 takenup in the shape of a roll, providing the water-soluble film 6 is joinedby lamination to the outer-layer-film 20 except for opposite edgeportions 20 a and 20 b. In the present embodiment, the intermediatelayer 5 is not formed in the edge portions 20 a and 20 b. Theintermediate layer 5 may be formed therein. Optionally, the edgeportions 20 a and 20 b may be formed exclusively of the substrative film10. The edge portion 20 b is given a larger width than the edge portion20 a. The bag shown in FIG. 12B is made of the laminated film shown inFIG. 11. The laminated film is formed in the shape of a bag opened onone side thereof. In this bag, the laminated film is superposed so thatthe water-soluble film 6 is positioned inside and that the edge portions20 a and 20 b are shifted and faced to each other (in the manner shownin side elevation in FIG. 12A) by folding the laminated film along thecenter line of the part having the water-soluble film 6 joined bylamination. Further, in this bag, prescribed portions of the superposedlaminated film are heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-solublefilm 6 facing to each other at the prescribed portions are fused to eachother. In the present embodiment, the left side of the bag shown in FIG.12B constitutes itself a folding line, a portion 1090 along the leftside, a portion 1091 (except the edge portions 20 a and 20 b) along theupper side, and a portion 1091 (except the edge portions 20 a and 20 b)along the lower side are heat-sealed, and the right side is left open.

The bag which is opened on the right side as shown in FIG. 12B, in thecase of the bag supplying method, is supplied by a manufacturer of bagsto a manufacturer of commodities accommodated therein. In the case ofthe bag supplying method, the manufacturer of commodities places hiscommodity into the bag shown in FIG. 12B through the opening in theright side and subsequently heat-seals the portion 1093 (except the edgeportions 20 a and 20 b) along the right side to complete a package, i.e.the product in the finished state in which it reaches the user of thecommodities. In the case of the automatic packaging method, themanufacturer of commodities performs continuously the operation ofproducing bags shown in FIG. 12B from the laminated film shown in FIG.11, filling the bags with his commodities, and further heat-sealing theportion 1093 along the right side.

In the package using the bag which is shown in FIG. 12B, since the edgeportions 20 a and 20 b of prescribed portions of the outer-layer-film 20on which the water-soluble film 6 Is not formed are shifted and faced toeach other, and therefore these portions do not adhere to each other.Thus, these portions 20 a and 20 b function as a part which becomes abeginning for peeling the outer bag film 60.

The laminated films to be used in the present invention (particularly,the laminated films to be used in the various examples shown in FIG.13A-FIG. 36B which will be described specifically below) are not limitedto the laminated films of the structure shown in FIG. 1. For example,the laminated films using an adhesive layer as the intermediate layercan be used instead. In this case, the outer-layer-film and theintermediate layer can be caused to adhere fast to each other and theintermediate layer and the water-soluble film to contact directly eachother and adhere so weakly to each other as to permit separation bypeeling by suitably selecting the material of the part of theouter-layer-film most approximating to the intermediate layer side andthe material of the intermediate layer.

Now, preparatory to the description of the bags according to the otherembodiments of the present invention, a basic principle of peeling theouter bag film 60 consisting of the outer-layer-film 20 and theintermediate layer 5 in the package according to the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIG. 13A-FIG. 13D below.

FIG. 13A is a plan view of what is obtained by superposing the laminatedfilm shown in FIG. 1 so that the water-soluble film 6 is positionedinside and heat-sealing a part of the superposed laminated film, as seenfrom the front side thereof. FIG. 13B is a view taken in the directionof the arrows along the line X1-X1′ in FIG. 13A. FIG. 13C and FIG. 13D,corresponding to FIG. 13B, are diagrams illustrating sequential steps ofthe process of peeling the outer bag film 60.

As shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, a heat-sealed portion 100 and anon-heat-sealed portion 101 adjoin each other in a boundary line 102. Inthe heat-sealed portion 100, the opposed front and rear surfaces of thewater-soluble film 6 is fused to each other. On the upper side in thebearings of FIG. 13A, the laminated film on the front side and thelaminated film on the rear side do not continue into each other. Inother words, the upper side in the bearings of FIG. 13A does notconstitute itself a folding line of the laminated film. The point Awhich is one end of the boundary line 102 reaches the upper side. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the length of the upper sideof the heat-sealed portion 100, namely the width of the portionextending along the boundary line 102 in the heat-sealed portion 100(the length of the upper side of the heat-sealed portion 100 in FIG.13A) is wide.

From the laminated film which is supposed as shown in FIG. 13A and FIG.13B, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled in a manner as shown inFIG. 13C and FIG. 13D. To be specific, when the front side and the rearside of the laminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion 101 are turnedup so as to exert force on the point A, first the outer bag film 60becomes the state shown in FIG. 13C immediately before starting thepeeling and subsequently the portion of the point A of the water-solublefilm 6 is moved toward the foreground side (the lower side in thebearings of FIG. 13D) as shown in FIG. 13D, whereas the portions of thefront and the rear laminated film in the neighborhood of the boundaryline 102 of the outer bag film 60 are gradually turned up outwardly.This is because the water-soluble film 6 possesses expansibility andcontractility and the doubled parts of the water-soluble film 6 of thefront and the rear laminated film in the heat-sealed portion 100bordering on the boundary line 102 are fused to each other. As a result,a gap 103 originates in the neighborhood of the point A and developsgradually between the water-soluble film 6 and the outer bag film 60. Byutilizing this gap 103 as a beginning for peeling the outer bag film 60,therefore, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled.

FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D are diagrams corresponding respectively to FIG.13A-FIG. 13D. In FIG. 14A˜FIG. 14D, identical or similar parts found inFIG. 13A-FIG. 13D are denoted by like reference numerals. These partsare omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. In thecase shown in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, the left side of the heat-sealedportion 100 constitutes itself an edge side as shown in FIG. 14A and thelaminated film on the front side and the laminated film on the rear sidedo not continue into each other in the left side. The length of theupper side of the heat-sealed portion 100, namely the width of the partof the heat-sealed portion 100 extending along the boundary line 102(the length of the upper side of the heat-sealed portion 100 in thebearings of FIG. 14A) is narrow. In this example as in the example shownin FIG. 13A-FIG. 13D, when the front side and the rear side of thelaminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion 101 are turned up so as toexert force upon the point A, they are transformed through the state ofFIG. 14C to the state of FIG. 14D. In the example shown in FIG. 14A-FIG.14D, the outer bag film 60 can be more easily peeled because the gap 103reaches the left side of the heat-sealed portion 100 in the bearings ofFIG. 14A and expands to the corner portion as shown in FIG. 14D.Moreover, in the case shown in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, the outer bag film 60can be peeled more easily because the length of the upper side of theheat-sealed portion 100 is small and the gap 103 reaches the left sideof the heat-sealed portion 100 in the bearings of FIG. 14A even when theamount of turning is small.

Another principle of peeling the outer bag film 60 consisting of theouter-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5 in the packageaccording to the present invention will be described below withreference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

FIG. 26A is a perspective view of the laminated film in the state shownin FIG. 14A, with the front and the rear side of the laminated films 101a and 101 b in the heat-sealed portion 100 opened toward the oppositesides from the boundary line 102. FIG. 26B is a view taken in thedirection of the arrows along the line X4-X4′ in FIG. 26A. FIG. 26C andFIG. 26D, corresponding to FIG. 26B, are diagrams illustratingsequential steps of the process of the separation of the outer bag film60. In FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D, identical or similar parts found in FIG.14A-FIG. 14D are denoted by like reference numerals. These parts areomitted from the following description to avoid repetition.

From the laminated film in the state shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, theouter bag film 60 can be easily peeled as shown in FIG. 26C and FIG.26D. When the laminated films 101 a and 101 b on both sides of theboundary line 102 are pulled away from each other so as to exert forceon the point A, the outer bag film 60 is peeled in the neighborhood ofthe point A and the gap 103 gradually grows between the water-solublefilm 6 and the outer bag film 60. The reason for this peeling (orseparation) is that the water-soluble film 6 stretches in a largeramount than the outer bag film 60 and also that the front and the rearpart of the water-soluble film 6 of the laminated film in theheat-sealed portion 100 bordering on the boundary line 102 are fused toeach other. As a result, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled byutilizing this gap 103 as a beginning for peeling the outer bag film 60.In the example shown in FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D, since the width of theheat-sealed portion 100 (the length in the vertical direction in thebearings of FIG. 26B) is small, the gap 103 passes the state of FIG. 26Cand expands to the corner part of the heat-sealed portion 100 as shownin FIG. 26D. The width of the heat-sealed portion 100 is not alwaysrequired to be small.

Still another principle of peeling the outer bag film 60 consisting ofthe outer-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5 in the packageaccording to the present invention will be described below withreference to FIG. 15A-FIG. 15D.

FIG. 15A is a plan view of what is obtained by superposing the laminatedfilm shown in FIG. 1 so that the water-soluble film 6 is positionedinside and heat-sealing a part of the superposed laminated film, as seenfrom the front side thereof. FIG. 15B is a cross section taken throughFIG. 15A across the line X3-X3′. FIG. 15C, corresponding to FIG. 15B, isa diagram illustrating a step of peeling the outer bag film 60. FIG.15D, corresponding to FIG. 15A, is a plan view illustrating anotherexample of a slit 111.

As shown in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the linear slit 111 piercing only theouter bag film 60 of the laminated film on the front side are formed inthe heat-sealed portion 100. The slit 111 of this kind can be formed,for example, by depressing a blade having a height equal to thethickness of the outer bag film 60.

From the laminated film which is superposed as shown in FIG. 15A andFIG. 15B, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled as shown in FIG.15C. Specifically, the peeling is attained by simply folding the outerbag film 60 along the slit 111 as shown in FIG. 15C. As a result, theouter bag film 60 is peeled and raised from the water-soluble film 6 inthe portion extending along the slit 111. The outer bag film 60,therefore, can be easily peeled by utilizing the raised portion as abeginning for the outer bag film 60.

While the slit 111 is formed in a linear shape in the case shown in FIG.15A-FIG. 15C, it may be formed in the shape of the letter U (or in theshape of three sides of a square) as shown in FIG. 15D. In this case,the outer bag film 60 can be peeled in the shape of a tongue. While theslit 111 is formed in the heat-sealed portion in the case shown in FIG.15A-FIG. 15C, it may be formed in a non-heat-sealed portion (not shown)instead. Where the laminated film on the front side and the laminatedfilm on the rear side do not form a mutually continuing portion throughthe medium of a folding line, a slit piercing only the outer bag film 60of the laminated film on the front side, though not shown in thediagram, may be formed.

Now, typical bags made of the laminated film shown in FIG. 1 inaccordance with the principles of peeling mentioned above will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 16 through FIG. 25.

FIG. 16 through FIG. 25 represent examples of the bag, made thelaminated film shown in FIG. 1. In these bags, the laminated film isformed in the shape of a bag opened on one side thereof. In these bags,the laminated film is superposed so that the water-soluble film 6 ispositioned inside, and prescribed portions of the superposed laminatedfilm are heat-sealed so that the parts of the water-soluble film 6facing to each other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other.These bags is constituted of two mutually separate laminated films onthe front and the rear side which are superposed upon each other. Thebags may be constituted of one laminated films superposed by folding. Inthis case, the folding line for superposing the one laminated film isset so as to be positioned on a prescribed position (for example, theleft side or the right side in the bag shown in FIG. 16 which will bedescribed specifically below). The bags shown in FIG. 16 through FIG. 25are invariably so-called three-side-sealed bags. The bags according tothe present invention do not need to be limited to this particularstructure.

In the bag shown in FIG. 16, portions 201-204 along the left and theright sides and a strip portion 205 separated by a prescribed distancefrom the upper side and laid parallel to the upper side are heat-sealedand the lower side is left open. The part which is enclosed with theheat-sealed portions 202, 204, and 205 and a portion 206 extended alongthe lower side which is heat-sealed after a prescribed commodity hasbeen inserted through the opening of the lower side constitutes itselfan area 207 destined to accommodate the commodity. In the area outsidethe heat-sealed portion 205 which participates in enclosing the area 207destined to accommodate the commodity, therefore, a non-heat-sealedportion 208 and the heat-sealed portions 201 and 203 are formed in amutually adjoining state. One-ends (points B and C) of the boundarylines between the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in the outside area andthe heat-sealed portions 201 and 203 in the outside area reach the outeredge of the bag on which the laminated film on the front side and thelaminated film on the rear side do not continue into each other. A partof the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in the outsidearea mentioned above, which continues to the boundary line mentionedabove (namely the upper side of the non-heat-sealed portion 208), formsa part of the outer edge of the bag on which the laminated film on thefront side and the laminated film on the rear side do not continue intoeach other. A part of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portions201 and 203 in the outside area mentioned above, which continues to theboundary line mentioned above (namely the upper side of the heat-sealedportions 201 and 203), forms a part of the outer edge of the bag onwhich the laminated film on the front side and the laminated film on therear side do not continue into each other. A part of the peripheral edgeof the heat-sealed portions 201 and 203 which confront to the boundaryline mentioned above (namely the left side of the heat-sealed portion201 and the right side of the heat-sealed portion 203), forms a part ofthe outer edge of the bag on which the laminated film on the front sideand the laminated film on the rear side do not continue into each other.In the present embodiment, the widths of the heat-sealed portions 201and 203 in the lateral direction are relatively large.

The bag which is opened on the lower side as shown in FIG. 16, in thecase of the bag supplying method, are supplied from a manufacturer ofbags to a manufacturer of commodities. In the case of the bag supplyingmethod, the manufacturer of commodities places his commodity into thebag shown in FIG. 16 through the opening in the lower side andsubsequently heat-seals the portion 206 along the lower side to completea package, i.e. the product in the finished state in which it reachesthe user of the commodities. In the case of the automatic packagingmethod, the manufacturer of commodities performs continuously theoperation of producing bags shown in FIG. 16 from the laminated filmshown in FIG. 1 and taken up in the shape of a roll, filling the bagswith his commodities, and further heat-sealing the portion 206 along thelower side. This situation similarly applies to the bags to be describedbelow.

The bag of the package is in a double-wall structure consisting of theouter-layer-film 20 and the intermediate layer 5 (the outer bag film 60)which adhere fast to each other and function as an outer bag and thewater-soluble film 6 which functions as an inner bag. The outer bag film60 and the water-soluble film 6 adhere so weakly to each other as to bepeelable. The user of the commodity accommodated in the package,therefore, has only to peel the outer bag film 60 to gain access to thecommodity as accommodated in the inner bag formed of the water-solublefilm 6 like the aforementioned composite bag which consists of an innerbag and an outer bag.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 16, the non-heat-sealedportion 208 in FIG. 16 corresponds to the non-heat-sealed portion 101 inFIG. 13D-FIG. 13D, the heat-sealed portions 201 and 203 in FIG. 16correspond to the heat-sealed portion 100 in FIG. 13A-FIG. 13D, and thepoints B and C in FIG. 16 correspond to the point A in FIG. 13A-FIG.13D. The outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled off this package by themethod of peeling described above with reference to FIG. 13A-FIG. 13D.When the front and the rear laminated film in the non-heat-sealedportion 208 in FIG. 16 are opened as shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, theouter bag film 60 can be easily peeled off the package by the method ofpeeling described above with reference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

In FIG. 17, identical or similar components found in FIG. 16 are denotedby like reference numerals. The description of these components will beomitted from the following description to avoid repetition. The bagshown in FIG. 17 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 16 only in respectthat the heat-sealed portions 201 and 202 along the left side have asmall width. In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 17, therefore,the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 17 corresponds to thenon-heat-sealed portion 101 in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, the heat-sealedportion 201 in FIG. 17 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 100 inFIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, and the point B in FIG. 17 corresponds to the point Ain FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. The outer bag film 60 can be more easily peeledoff this package by the method of peeling described above with referenceto FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. When the laminated films on the front and the rearside in the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 17 are opened as shownin FIG. 26A and FIG. 28B, therefore, the outer bag film 60 can be easilypeeled off this package by the method of peeling described above withreference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

In FIG. 18, identical and similar components found in FIG. 16 aredenoted by like reference numerals. The description of these componentswill be omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. Thebag shown in FIG. 18 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 16 only inrespect that in the bag shown in FIG. 18, the left side portion of theheat-sealed portion 201 in FIG. 16 is cut off to decrease the width ofthe heat-sealed portion 201, the right side portion of the heat-sealedportion 203 is cut off to decrease the width of the heat-sealed portion203, and a slit 209 piercing the front and the rear laminated films isformed as vertically extended at the center of the non-heat-sealedportion 208. In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 18, therefore,the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 18 corresponds to thenon-heat-sealed portion 101 in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, the heat-sealedportions 201 and 203 in FIG. 18 correspond to the heat-sealed portion100 in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, and the points B and C in FIG. 18 correspondto the point A in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. The outer bag film 60 can be moreeasily peeled off this package by the method of peeling described abovewith reference to FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. The present embodiment has anadvantage in enabling the non-heat-sealed portion 208 to be easilyturned up by virtue of the slit 209. When the front and the rearlaminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 18 are openedas shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, the outer bag film 60 can be easilypeeled off this package by the method of peeling described above withrespect to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

In FIG. 19, identical and similar components found in FIG. 16 aredenoted by like reference numerals. The description of these componentswill be omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. Thebag shown in FIG. 19 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 16 only inrespect that in the bag shown in FIG. 19, the widths of the heat-sealedportions 201 and 203 are small. The bag shown in FIG. 19, unlike the bagshown in FIG. 18, excludes the cutoff mentioned above. Likewise in thepackage using the bag shown in FIG. 19, the outer bag film 60 can bemore easily peeled off this package by the method of peeling describedabove with reference to FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. When the front and the rearlaminated films in the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 19 are openedas shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, the outer bag film 60 can be easilypeeled off this package by the method of peeling described above withreference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

In FIG. 20, identical and similar components found in FIG. 16 aredenoted by like reference numerals. The description of these componentswill be omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. Thebag shown in FIG. 20 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 16 only inrespect that in the bag shown in FIG. 20, the right side portions of theheat-sealed portion 203 and the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 16are cut off and the heat-sealed portion 201 in FIG. 16 is cut off todecrease the width of the heat-sealed portion 201. In the package usingthe bag shown in FIG. 20, therefore, the non-heat-sealed portion 208 inFIG. 20 corresponds to the non-heat-sealed portion 101 in FIG. 5, theheat-sealed portion 201 in FIG. 20 corresponds to the heat-sealedportion 100 in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, and the point B in FIG. 20 correspondsto the point A in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. The outer bag film 60 can be moreeasily peeled off this package by the method of peeling described abovewith reference to FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. When the front and the rearlaminated film in the non-heat-sealed portion 208 in FIG. 20 are openedas shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, therefore, the outer bag 60 can beeasily peeled from this package by the method of peeling described abovewith reference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

In FIG. 21, identical and similar components found in FIG. 16 aredenoted by like reference numerals. The description of these componentswill be omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. Thebag shown in FIG. 21 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 16 only inrespect that in the bag shown in FIG. 21, a slit 210 piercing the frontand the rear laminated film is formed vertically at the center of thenon-heat-sealed portion 208, heat-sealed portions 211 and 212 are formedon the left and the right sides of the slit 210, and two non-heat-sealedportions 208 a and 208 b are used instead of the non-heat-sealed portion208 in FIG. 16. One end of the slit 210 reaches the outer edge (namelythe upper side) of the back on which the laminated film on the frontside and the laminated film on the rear side do not continue into eachother. A part of the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion 211,which confronts the boundary line between the heat-sealed portion 211and the non-heat-sealed portion 208 a (namely, the right side of theheat-sealed portion 211), coincides with the slit 210. Likewise, a partof the peripheral edge of the heat-sealed portion 212, which confrontsthe boundary line between the heat-sealed portion 212 and thenon-heat-sealed portion 208 b (namely, the left side of the heat-sealedportion 211), coincides with the slit 210. The width of the portion ofthe heat-sealed portion along the boundary line mentioned above (namely,the length of the upper side of the heat-sealed portion 211) isdecreased. The width of the portion of the heat-sealed portion 212 alongthe boundary line (namely, the length of the upper side of theheat-sealed portion 212) is similarly decreased. In the package usingthe bag shown in FIG. 21, the non-heat-sealed portions 208 a and 208 bin FIG. 21 correspond to the non-heat-sealed portion 101 in FIG.14A-FIG. 14D, the heat-sealed portions 211 and 212 in FIG. 21 correspondto the heat-sealed portion 100 in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D, and the point D, Ein FIG. 21 corresponds to the point A in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. The outerbag film 60 can be more easily peeled off this package by the method ofpeeling described above with reference to FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D. When thefront and the rear laminate film in the non-heat-sealed portion 208 a or208 b in FIG. 21 are opened as shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B,therefore, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled from this packageby the method of peeling described above with reference to FIG. 26A-FIG.26D.

In the bag shown in FIG. 22, portions 301-304 along the left and theright sides, a portion 305 along the upper side, and a strip portionseparated by a prescribed distance from the upper side and extendedparallel to the upper side are heat-sealed and the lower side is leftopen. The part which is enclosed with the heat-sealing portions 302, 304and 306, and a portion 307 extended along the lower side which will beheat-sealed after a prescribed commodity has been inserted in the bagthrough the opening in the lower side constitutes itself an area 308destined to accommodate the commodity. As a result, a non-heat-sealedportion 309 enclosed with the heat-sealed portions 301, 303, 305 and 306is formed in the area outside the heat-sealed portion 306 whichparticipates in enclosing the area 308 destined to accommodate thecommodity. In the outside area mentioned above, perforations 310 forexcising a part of the area are formed. In the present embodiment, theperforations 310 are linearly formed parallel to the lower side of theheat-sealed portion 305 at a position slightly lower than the lower sideof the heat-sealed portion 305 and are allowed to reach the left side ofthe heat-sealed portion 301 and the right side of the heat-sealedportion 305. At the left end of the perforations 310 (namely, theheat-sealed portion 301), a notch 311 for facilitating the excisionalong the perforations 310 is formed. In the neighborhood of the rightend of the perforations 310 (namely, the heat-sealed portion 303), anotch 312 corresponding to the excision portion of the heat-sealedportion 203 described above with reference to FIG. 18 is formed.One-ends (points F and G) of the boundary lines between thenon-heat-sealed portion 309 and the heat-sealed portions 301 and 303mutually adjoining in the outside area mentioned above remaining afterthe excision of the upper side portion of the perforations 310 in theoutside area mentioned above reach the perforations 310. A part of theperipheral edge of the heat-sealed portion 309 remaining after theexcision of the upper side portion of the perforations 310 in theoutside area mentioned above, which continues to the boundary linementioned above, coincides with the perforations 310. A part of theperipheral edge of the heat-sealed portions 301 and 303 remaining afterthe excision of the upper side portion of the perforations 310 in theoutside area mentioned above, which continues to the boundary linementioned above, coincides with the perforations 310.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 22, the peeling of the outerbag film 60 is initiated by excising the upper side portion of theperforations 310 along the perforations 310. As a result, the remainingheat-sealed portion 301 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 201 inFIG. 20, the point F corresponds to the point B in FIG. 16, and theheat-sealed portions 306 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 205 inFIG. 16 and FIG. 18, the remaining heat-sealed portion 303 correspondsto the heat-sealed portion 203 in FIG. 18, and the point G correspondsto the point C in FIG. 18. The outer bag film 60, therefore, can be aseasily peeled as in the embodiments of FIG. 16 and FIG. 18. In the bagshown in FIG. 22, there is no possibility that the water-soluble film 6of the non-heat-sealed portion 309 is degenerated by the ambientcondition because the non-heat-sealed portion 309 is enclosed with theheat-sealed portions 301, 303, 305 and 306 and the non-heat-sealedportion 309 is not opened into the ambience except for the portion ofthe perforations 310.

In the bag shown in FIG. 23, portions 401-404 along the left and theright sides, a portion 405 along the upper side, and a strip portion 406separated by a prescribed distance from the upper side and extendedparallel to the upper side are heat-sealed and the lower side is leftopen. The part which is enclosed with the heat-sealed portions 402, 404and 406, and a portion 407 which will be heat-sealed after a prescribedcommodity has been inserted in the bag through the opening in the lowerside constitutes itself an area 408 destined to accommodate thecommodity. As a result, a non-heat-sealed portion 409 enclosed with theheat-sealed portions 401, 403, 405 and 406 is formed in the area outsidethe heat-sealed portion 406 which participates in enclosing the area 408destined to accommodate the commodity. The heat-sealed portion 401 hasthe left side thereof cut off to decrease the width thereof. In theoutside area mentioned above, perforations 410 for cutting off a part ofthe area are formed. In the present embodiment, the perforations 410 onthe left side are linearly formed parallel to the lower side of theheat-sealed portion 405 at a position slightly lower than theheat-sealed portion 405 and on the right side are linearly formedparallel to the upper side of the heat-sealed portion 406 at a positionslightly higher than the heat-sealed portion 406. Collectively, theperforations 410 are formed in a stepped manner. They reach the leftside of the heat-sealed portion 401 and the right side of theheat-sealed portion 403. At the left end of the perforations (namely theheat-sealed portion 401), a notch 411 adapted to facilitate theseparation along the perforations 410 is formed. One end (the point H)of the boundary line between the non-heat-sealed portion 409 and theheat-sealed portion 401 mutually adjoining in the outside area mentionedabove remaining after the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 410 in the outside area reaches the perforations 410. Apart of the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion 409 remainingafter the excision of the upper side portion of the perforations 410 inthe outside area mentioned above, which continues to the boundary linementioned above, coincides with the perforations 410. A part of theperipheral edge of the heat-sealed portions 401 and 403 remaining afterthe excision of the upper side portion of the perforations 410 in theoutside area mentioned above, which continues to the boundary linementioned above, coincides with the perforations 410.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 23, the peeling of the outerbag film 60 is initiated by excising the upper side portion of theperforations 410 along the perforations 410. As a result, the remainingheat-sealed portion 401 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 201 inFIG. 20, the point H corresponds to the point B in FIG. 20, and theheat-sealed portions 406 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 205 inFIG. 20. The outer bag film 60, therefore, can be as easily peeled as inthe embodiment of FIG. 20. In the bag shown in FIG. 23, there is nopossibility that the water-soluble film 6 of the non-heat-sealed portion409 is degenerated by the ambient condition because the non-heat-sealedportion 409 is enclosed with the heat-sealed portions 401, 403, 405 and406 and the non-heat-sealed portion 409 is not opened to the ambienceexcept for the portion of the perforations 410.

In the bag shown in FIG. 24, portions 501-503 along the left side, theright side and the upper side are heat-sealed and the lower side is leftopen. The part which is enclosed with the heat-sealed portions 501-503and a portion 504 along the lower side which will be heat-sealed afterthe commodity has been inserted into the bag through the opening in thelower side constitutes itself an area 505 destined to accommodate thecommodity. In the heat-sealed portion 503 which forms an area outsidethe area 505 destined to accommodate the commodity, a slit 506 piercingonly the outer bag film 60 on the front side and a slit 507 piercingonly the outer bag film 60 on the rear side are formed. In the presentembodiment, the slits 506 and 507 are linearly formed and allowed toreach the left and the right sides of the bag.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 24, the heat-sealed portion503 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 110 in FIG. 15A-FIG. 15C andthe slits 506 and 507 correspond to the slit 111 in FIG. 15A-FIG. 15C.The outer bag film 60, therefore, can be easily peeled off this packageby the method of peeling described above with reference to FIG. 15A-FIG.15C.

In FIG. 25, identical and similar components found in FIG. 24 aredenoted by like reference numerals. The description of these parts willbe omitted from the following description to avoid repetition. The bagshown in FIG. 25 differs from the bag shown in FIG. 24 only in respectthat the slits 506 and 507 are each formed in the shape of the letter U.In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 25, therefore, theheat-sealed portion 503 corresponds to the heat-sealed portion 110 inFIG. 15D and the slits 506 and 507 correspond to the slit 111 in FIG.15D. The outer bag film 60, therefore, can be easily peeled off thispackage by the method of peeling described above with reference to FIG.15D.

Now, yet other typical bags made of the laminated film shown in FIG. 1in accordance with the principles of peeling mentioned above will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 27 through FIG. 36B.

FIG. 27A, FIG. 29A, FIG. 30A, FIG. 31A, FIG. 32, FIG. 33A, FIG. 34A,FIG. 35A, and FIG. 36A severally illustrate examples of the bag made ofone laminated film shown in FIG. 1. In these bags, the laminated film isformed in the shape of a tube lined with the water-soluble film in sucha manner that: (a) a first strip portion of the laminated film and asecond strip portion of the laminated film are superposed on each otherso that the corresponding portions of the water-soluble film of thefirst and second strip portions face to each other; and (b) thecorresponding portions of the water-soluble film of the first and secondstrip portions are fused to each other by heat-sealing. A prescribedportion of the tube is heat-sealed so that the parts of thewater-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portion arefused to each other in such a manner that an area destined toaccommodate a commodity in the tube is occluded relative to the side ofa first end part side of the tube, thereby the laminated film is formedin the shape of a bag in which the area destined to accommodate thecommodity is opened from a second end part side of the tube.

The bag shown in FIG. 27A is made of one rectangular laminated film (thelaminated film shown in FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 27B. FIG. 27B depicts thebag shown in FIG. 27A in a developed state. In FIG. 27B, thewater-soluble film 6 is disposed in the foreground side and the outerbag film 60 in the background side with respect to the surface of thesheet of the figure. In the bag shown in FIG. 27A, a first strip portion600 a extending along the left side and a second strip portion 600 bextending along the right side respectively of the laminated film shownin FIG. 27B are superposed so that the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the strip portions 600 a and 600 b face to eachother. The corresponding portions of the water-soluble film of the stripportions 600 a and 600 b are fused to each other. In such a manner, theportion of the laminated film other than the strip portions 600 a and600 b forms a tube. In FIG. 27A, 600 denotes a heat-sealed portionconsisting of the strip portions 600 a and 600 b. In the presentembodiment, the heat-sealed portion 600 constitutes a backlining partand the bag shown in FIG. 27A is a backlining-type bag. In the presentembodiment, the laminated film is folded inwardly along lines 601 and602 in FIG. 27B. These lines 601 and 602 correspond to the left and theright sides of the bag shown in FIG. 27A. In the bag shown in FIG. 27A,a strip portion (heat-sealed portion) 604 separated by a prescribeddistance W from an upper edge 603 of the tube and extended parallel tothe upper edge 603 is heat-sealed. That is, the a portion 604 a of thewater-soluble film 6 and a portion 604 b of the water-soluble film 6 inFIG. 27B are superposed and fused to each other, and a portion 604 c ofthe water-soluble film 6 and a portion 604 d of the water-soluble film 6are superposed and fused to each other. These portions 604 a through 604d jointly form the heat-sealed portion 604. One end (the upper end, thepoint I) of a boundary line 605 between the heat-sealed portion 600 andthe tube mentioned above reaches the upper edge 603. In the presentembodiment, the other end (the lower end) similarly reaches a lower edge606. In the bag shown in FIG. 27B, the area in the tube between theheat-sealed portion 604 and a strip portion 607 extended along the loweredge 606 is an area 608 destined to accommodate the commodity. The stripportion 607 is destined to be heat-sealed after a commodity has beeninserted into the bag through the opened lower edge 606. The stripportion 607 to be heat-sealed may be separated by a slight distance fromthe lower edge 606. The heat-sealed portion 604, therefore, occludes thearea 608 destined to accommodate the commodity relative to the side ofthe upper edge 603. In the area outside the heat-sealed portion 604 inthe tube mentioned above, a non-heat-sealed portion 609 is formed. Inthe present embodiment, the non-heat-sealed portion 609 is formed in theshape of a strip of a width W along the upper edge 603. Thenon-heat-sealed portion 609 is formed on both sides of the boundary line605 astride the boundary line 605. A part of the peripheral edge of thenon-heat-sealed portion 609 (namely, the upper side of thenon-heat-sealed portion 609) includes one end (the point I) of theboundary line 605 and forms the upper edge 603.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 27A, the outer bag film 60can be easily peeled off this package by the method of peeling describedabove with reference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D. This method of peeling willbe described below with reference to FIG. 28A-FIG. 28C. FIG. 28A is aview taken in the direction of the arrows along the line X5-X5′ in FIG.27A. FIG. 28B, corresponding to FIG. 28A, is a diagram illustrating afirst concrete method of peeling. FIG. 28C, corresponding to FIG. 28A,is a diagram illustrating a second concrete method of peeling. Thepeeling of the outer bag film 60 is attained by opening the end partside 603, inserting an index finger 610 of the left hand and an indexfinger 611 of the right hand, for example, inside the non-heat-sealedportion 610 as shown in FIG. 28B, and pulling the non-heat-sealedportion 610 toward the opposite sides. As a result, a force is exertedon the point I of the boundary line 605 mentioned above. In FIG. 27A andFIG. 28A-FIG. 28C, the heat-sealed portion 600 corresponds to theheat-sealed portion 100 in FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D and the laminated films onthe opposite sides of the boundary line 605 in the non-heat-sealedportion 609 correspond to the laminated films 101 a and 101 b. The outerbag film 60, therefore, can be easily peeled according to the principledescribed above with reference to FIG. 26A-FIG. 26D. Peeling of theouter bag film 60 is attained by nipping the laminated film on the leftside of the boundary line 605 in the non-heat-sealed portion 609 with anindex finger 610 and a thumb 612 of the left hand, nipping the laminatedfilm on the right side of the boundary line 605 in the non-heat-sealedportion 609 with an index finger 611 and a thumb 613 of the right handas shown in FIG. 28C, and pulling the non-heat-sealed portion 609 towardthe opposite sides. For the purpose of effectively performing such anoperation, it is proper that the width W of the non-heat-sealed portion609 is not less than 5 mm. The width W is preferably not less than 7 mm,and more preferably not less than 1 cm. If the width W of thenon-heat-sealed portion 609 is unduly large, the excess will make nocontribution to the accommodation of the commodity. Thus, the width W ofthe non-heat-sealed portion 609 is appropriately not more than 5 cm.

In the bag shown in FIG. 27A and FIG. 27B, the strip portions 600 a and600 b which are destined to form the heat-sealed portion 600 aredisposed along the left and the right sides of the laminated film.However, in FIG. 27B, the strip portion 600 a alone may be disposed asseparated by a prescribed distance from the left side, the strip portion600 b alone may be disposed as separated by a prescribed distance fromthe right side, or the strip portions 600 a and 600 b may be bothdisposed as separated by a prescribed distance (an equal distance ordifferent distances) from the left and the right sides. This pointsimilarly applies to the various bags to be described below.

In FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B, identical or similar components found in FIG.27A and FIG. 27B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 29B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 29A in adeveloped state. The bag shown in FIG. 29A differs from the bag shown inFIG. 27A only in respect that the strip portions (heat-sealed portions)620 and 621 extended along the left and the right sides in the tubementioned above are heat-sealed. The strip portion 620 a of thewater-soluble film 6 and the strip portion 620 b of the water-solublefilm 6 in FIG. 29B are superposed and fused to each other and thesestrip portions 620 a and 620 b jointly form the heat-sealed portion 620.The strip portion 621 a of the water-soluble film 6 and the stripportion 621 b of the water-soluble film 6 in FIG. 29B are superposed andfused to each other and these strip portions 621 a and 621 b jointlyform the heat-sealed portion 621.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 29A, the outer bag film 60can be peeled in the same manner as in the package using the bag shownin FIG. 27A. Incidentally, in the back supplying method mentioned above,a multiplicity of bags prepared for accommodating commodities thereinare superposed and set in position in an automatic packing device. Inthis case, the bags shown in FIG. 27A have their left sides 601 and theright side 602 formed simply by folding the laminated film. The oppositesides 601 and 602, therefore are more or less raised above their webportions. It is, therefore, difficult to have the multiplicity of bagsneatly superposed. This difficulty possibly brings about inconveniencessuch as obstructing the operation of the automatic packing device. Incontrast, the bags shown in FIG. 29A have the heat-sealed portions 620and 621 formed along the opposite sides 601 and 602, the multiplicity ofthe bags can be neatly superposed without incurring such inconveniencesas mentioned above.

In FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B, identical and similar components found in FIG.27A and FIG. 27B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 30B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 30A in adeveloped state. The bag shown in FIG. 30A differs from the bag shown inFIG. 27A in respect that a heat-sealed portion 630 is formed so that anon-heat-sealed portion 631 having a hermetically sealed periphery isinterposed between the non-heat-sealed portion 609 and the heat-sealedportion 604 occluding the area 608 destined to accommodate the commodityrelative to the side of the end part side 603. In the presentembodiment, as shown in FIG. 30A, the heat-sealed portion 630 isseparated by a prescribed distance from the heat-sealed portion 604 andextended parallel to the heat-sealed portion 604. A portion 630 a of thewater-soluble film 6 and a portion 630 b of the water-soluble film inFIG. 30B are superposed and fused to each other and a portion 630 c ofthe water-soluble film 6 and a portion 630 d of the water-soluble filmare superposed and fused to each other. These portions 630 a-630 djointly form the heat-sealed portion 630.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 30A, the outer bag film 60can be peeled in the same manner as in the package using the bag shownin FIG. 27A. In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 30A, the area608 destined to accommodate the commodity is doubly occluded by theheat-sealed portions 604 and 630 relative to the side of the upper edge603. Even when the water-soluble film 6 of the non-heat-sealed portion631 happens to be degenerated by the ambient condition, there is nopossibility of this degeneration exerting an adverse effect on the areadestined to accommodate the commodity.

The procedure that consists in heat-sealing not only the strip portion607 but also a strip portion 632 which is separated by a prescribeddistance from the strip portion 607 and extended parallel thereto asshown in FIG. 30A after the insertion of the commodities in the bagproves advantageous in that the possibility of the outer bag film 60being accidentally peeled from the lower edge 606 is diminished. It isnot always necessary to heat-seal additionally the strip portion 632.The strip portion 632 to be heat-sealed may be disposed as separated bya prescribed distance from the lower edge 606 instead. This pointsimilarly applies to the various other bags to be described below.

In FIG. 31A and FIG. 31B, identical and similar components found in FIG.27A and FIG. 27B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 31B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 31A in adeveloped state. The bag shown in FIG. 31A differs from the bag shown inFIG. 27A only in respect of the following point. In the bag shown inFIG. 31A, a heat-sealed portion 641 is formed so as to give rise to anon-heat-sealed portion 640 having a hermetically sealed periphery inthe area outside the heat-sealed portion 604 occluding the area 608destined to accommodate the commodity relative to the side of the upperedge 603. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31A, theheat-sealed portion 641 is disposed as separated by severally prescribeddistances from the upper edge 603 and the heat-sealed portion 604 andextended parallel to the heat-sealed portion 604. In FIG. 31B, a portion641 a of the water-soluble film 6 and a portion 641 b of thewater-soluble film 6 are superposed and fused to each other and aportion 641 c of the water-soluble film 6 and a portion 641 d of thewater-soluble film 6 are superposed and fused to each other. Theseportions 641 a-641 d jointly form the heat-sealed portion 641. Thenon-heat-sealed portion 640 is formed on the both sides of the boundaryline 605 astride the boundary line 605. In the outside area mentionedabove and the area of the heat-sealed portion 600 corresponding theretoboth in the tube mentioned above, perforations 642 for excising a partof these areas are formed. In the present embodiment, the perforations642 are linearly formed parallel to the lower side of the heat-sealedportion 641 at the position slightly lower than the lower side of theheat-sealed portion 641. One end (the point J) of the boundary line 605between the heat-sealed portion 600 and the tube mentioned aboveremaining after the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 642 in the outside area mentioned above and the area of theheat-sealed portion 600 corresponding thereto reaches the perforations642. A part of the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion 640(in the present embodiment, the upper side of the remainingnon-heat-sealed portion 640) remaining after the separation of the upperside portion of the perforations 642 coincides with the perforations642. It is appropriate that the width W′ from the lower side of thenon-heat-sealed portion 640 to the perforations 642 be equal to thewidth W in FIG. 27A.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 31A, the peeling of the outerbag film 60 is initiated by excising the upper side portion of theperforations 642 along this perforations 642. As a result, the packagebecomes practically the same state as the package using the bag shown inFIG. 13 and the remaining non-heat-sealed portion 640 corresponds to thenon-heat-sealed portion 609 in FIG. 27A and the point J corresponds tothe point I. After the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 642, the outer bag film 60 can be as easily peeled as inthe package using the bag shown in FIG. 27A. In the bag shown in FIG.31A, since the non-heat-sealed portion 640 is not opened to the ambienceexcept for the portion of the perforations 642, there is no possibilityof the water-soluble film 6 in the non-heat-sealed portion 640 beingdegenerated by the ambient condition.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the strip portion 607 along thelower edge 606 is destined to be heat-sealed after the commodity hasbeen inserted in the bag. Alternatively, it may contemplate heat-sealingthe strip portions 607 and 632 as shown in FIG. 32 similarly to theembodiment shown in FIG. 30A. This point similarly applies to thevarious other bags which will be described below. The bag shown in FIG.32 is identical with the bag shown in FIG. 31A.

In FIG. 33A and FIG. 33B, identical and similar components found in FIG.27A and FIG. 27B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 33B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 33A in adeveloped state. While the bag shown in FIG. 33A is a backlining-typebag like the bag shown in FIG. 27A, the bag shown in FIG. 33A is agusset-type bag provided with gussets 650 and 651. In the bag shown inFIG. 33A, the rectangular laminated film is folded inwardly along lines652-655 in FIG. 33B and folded outwardly along lines 656 and 657 for thepurpose of forming the gussets 650 and 651. In FIG. 33B, the portion 604a and a portion 604 f, the portion 604 b and the portion 604 c, theportion 604 d and a portion 604 e, a portion 604 g and a portion 604 l,a portion 604 h and a portion 604 i, a portion 604 j and a portion 604 kare severally superposed and the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film 6 are fused. These portions 604 a-604 l jointly formthe heat-sealed portion 604.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 33A, the outer bag film 60can be peeled in the same manner as in the package using the bag shownin FIG. 27A.

In FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B, identical and similar components found in FIG.33A and FIG. 33B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 34B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 34A in adeveloped state. The bag shown in FIG. 34A differs from the bag shown inFIG. 33A only in the following point. To be specific, in the bag shownin FIG. 34A, a heat-sealed portion 661 is formed so as to give rise to anon-heat-sealed portion 660 having a hermetically sealed periphery inthe area outside the heat-sealed portion 604 occluding the area 608destined to accommodate the commodity relative to the side of the upperedge 603. In the present embodiment, the heat-sealed portion 661 isformed as separated by severally prescribed distances from the upperedge 603 and the heat-sealed portion 604 and extended parallel to theheat-sealed portion 604 as shown in FIG. 34A. In FIG. 34B, a portion 661a and a portion 661 f, a portion 661 b and a portion 661 c, a portion661 d and a portion 661 e, a portion 661 g and a portion 661 l, aportion 661 h and a portion 661 i, a portion 661 j and a portion 661 kare severally superposed and the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film 6 are fused. These portions 661 a-661 l jointly formthe heat-sealed portion 604. The non-heat-sealed portion 660 is formedon the both sides of the boundary line 605 astride the boundary line605. In the outside area mentioned above and the area of the heat-sealedportion 600 corresponding thereto both in the tube mentioned above,perforations 662 for excising a part of these areas are formed. In thepresent embodiment, the perforations 662 are linearly formed parallel tothe lower side of the heat-sealed portion 661 at the position slightlylower than the lower side of the heat-sealed portion 661. One end (thepoint K) of the boundary line 605 between the heat-sealed portion 600and the tube mentioned above remaining after the excision of the upperside portion of the perforations 662 in the aforementioned outside areaand the area of the heat-sealed portion 600 corresponding theretoreaches the perforations 642. A part of the peripheral edge of thenon-heat-sealed portion 660 (in the present embodiment, the upper sideof the remaining non-heat-sealed portion 660) remaining after theexcision of the upper side portion of the perforations 662 coincideswith the perforations 662. It is appropriate that the width W′ from thelower side of the non-heat-sealed portion 660 to the perforations 662 beequal to the width W in FIG. 27A.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 34A, the peeling of the outerbag film 60 is initiated by excising the upper side portion of theperforations 662 along this perforations 662. As a result, the packageassumes practically the same state as the package using the bag shown inFIG. 33A and the remaining non-heat-sealed portion 660 corresponds tothe non-heat-sealed portion 609 in FIG. 13 and the point K correspondsto the point I. After the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 662, the outer bag film 60 can be as easily peeled in amanner similar to the package using the bag shown in FIG. 27A. In thebag shown in FIG. 34A, since the non-heat-sealed portion 660 is notopened to the ambience except for the portion of the perforations 662,there is no possibility of the water-soluble film 6 in thenon-heat-sealed portion 660 being degenerated by the ambient condition.

The bag shown in FIG. 35A is formed in the form of a gusset-type bagwith one rectangular laminated film (the laminated film of the structureof FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 35B. FIG. 35B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 35Ain a developed state. In FIG. 35B, as in the developed diagram mentionedabove, the water-soluble film 6 is disposed in the foreground side andthe outer bag film 60 in the background side with respect to the surfaceof the sheet of the figure. In the bag shown in FIG. 35A, a first stripportion 700 a extending along the left side and a second strip portion700 b extending along the right side of the laminated film shown in FIG.35B are superposed so that the corresponding portions of thewater-soluble film of the strip portions 700 a and 700 b face to eachother. The corresponding portions of the water-soluble film of the stripportions 700 a and 700 b are fused to each other. In such a manner, theportion of the laminated film other than the strip portions 700 a and700 b forms a tube. In FIG. 35A, 700 denotes a heat-sealed portionconsisting of the strip portions 700 a and 700 b. In the presentembodiment, the heat-sealed portion 700 is disposed in a side portionand does not constitute a backlining part. In the bag shown in FIG. 35A,the rectangular laminated film is folded inwardly along lines 704-706and folded outwardly along lines 707 and 708 so as to give rise togussets 720 and 721. In the bag shown in FIG. 35A, a strip portion(heat-sealed portion) 710 which is separated by a prescribed distance Wfrom an upper end part side 709 of the tube mentioned above and extendedparallel to the end part side 709 is heat-sealed. That is, a portion 710a and a portion 710 j, a portion 710 b and a portion 710 c, a portion710 d and a portion 710 i, a portion 710 e and a portion 710 f, and aportion 710 g and a portion 710 h in FIG. 35B are severally superposedand the corresponding portions of the water-soluble film 6 are fused.These portions 710 a-710 j jointly form the heat-sealed portion 710. Inthe bag shown in FIG. 35A, the strip portions (heat-sealed portions)701-703 along the sides corresponding to the folding lines 704-706mentioned above are heat-sealed. Specifically, a portion 701 a and aportion 701 b, a portion 702 a and a portion 702 b, and a portion 703 aand a portion 703 b in FIG. 35B are severally superposed and thecorresponding portions of the water-soluble film 6 are fused. Theportions 701 a and 701 b form a heat-sealed portion 701, the portions702 a and 702 b form a heat-sealed portion 702, and the portions 703 aand 703 b form a heat-sealed portion 703. One end (the upper end, thepoint L) of a boundary line 711 between the heat-sealed portion 700 andthe tube mentioned above reaches the end part side 709. In the presentembodiment, the other end (the lower end) of boundary line 711 similarlyreaches a lower end part side 712. In the bag shown in FIG. 35A, thearea in the tube mentioned above between the heat-sealed portion 710 anda strip portion 713 extended along the end part side 712 is an area 714destined to accommodate the commodity. The strip portion 713 is destinedto be heat-sealed after a commodity has been inserted into the bagthrough the opened end part side 712. The strip portion 713 to beheat-sealed may be separated by a slight distance from the end part side712. As a result, the heat-sealed portion 710 occludes the area 714destined to accommodate the commodity relative to the side of the endpart side 709. In the area outside the heat-sealed portion 710 in thetube mentioned above, a non-heat-sealed portion 715 is formed. In thepresent embodiment, the non-heat-sealed portion 715 is formed in theshape of a strip of width W along the end part side 709. Thenon-heat-sealed portion 715 is formed on one side (right side) of theboundary line 711 so as to be contiguous to the boundary line 711. Apart of the peripheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion 715 (namely,the upper side of the non-heat-sealed portion 715) includes one end (thepoint L) of the boundary line 711 and forms a part of the end part side709.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 35A, the point L in FIG. 35Acorresponds to the point A in FIG. 14A-FIG. 14D and the point A in FIG.26A-FIG. 26D. The outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled from thispackage by the method of peeling described above with reference to FIG.14A-FIG. 14D and the method of peeling described above with reference toFIG. 26A-FIG. 26D.

The bag shown in FIG. 35A acquires an exalted self-sustaining propertyowing to the heat-sealed portions 700-703. A multiplicity of bags ofthis structure can be neatly superposed due to the heat-sealed portions700-703. In the bag shown in FIG. 33A and the bag shown in FIG. 34A,heat-sealed portions corresponding to the heat-sealed portions 700˜703may be formed.

In FIG. 36A and FIG. 36B, identical and similar components found in FIG.35A and FIG. 35B are denoted by like reference numerals. The descriptionof these components will be omitted from the following description toavoid repetition. FIG. 36B depicts the bag shown in FIG. 36B in adeveloped state. The bag shown in FIG. 36A differs from the bag shown inFIG. 35A only in the following point. Specifically, in the bag shown inFIG. 36A, a heat-sealed portion 741 is formed so as to give rise to anon-heat-sealed portion 740 having a hermetically sealed periphery in anarea outside in the tube which is positioned outside the heat-sealedportion 710 occluding the area 714 destined to accommodate the commodityrelative to the side of the end part side 709. In the presentembodiment, the heat-sealed portion 741 is formed as separated byseverally prescribed distances from the end part side 709 and theheat-sealed portion 710 and extended parallel to the heat-sealed portion710 as shown in FIG. 36B. In FIG. 36B, a portion 741 a and a portion 741j, a portion 741 b and a portion 741 c, a portion 741 d and a portion741 i, a portion 741 e and a portion 741 f, and a portion 741 g and aportion 741 h are severally superposed and the corresponding portions ofthe water-soluble film 6 are fused. These portions 741 a-741 j jointlyform the heat-sealed portion 741. The non-heat-sealed portion 740 isformed on one side (right side) of the boundary line 711 so as to becontiguous to the boundary line 711. In the aforementioned outside areaand the area of the heat-sealed portion 700 corresponding thereto bothin the tube, perforations 741 for excising a part of these areas areformed. In the present embodiment, the perforations 741 are linearlyformed parallel to the lower side of the heat-sealed portion 741 at theposition slightly lower than the lower side of the heat-sealed portion741. One end (the point M) of the boundary line 711 between theheat-sealed portion 700 and the tube mentioned above remaining after theexcision of the upper side portion of the perforations 742 in theoutside area mentioned above and the area of the heat-sealed portion 700corresponding thereto reaches the perforations 742. A part of theperipheral edge of the non-heat-sealed portion 740 (in the presentembodiment, the upper side of the remaining non-heat-sealed portion 740)remaining after the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 742 coincides with the perforations 742. It is appropriatethat the width W′ from the lower side of the non-heat-sealed portion 740to the perforations 742 be equal to the width W in FIG. 13.

In the package using the bag shown in FIG. 36A, the peeling of the outerbag film 60 is initiated by excising the upper side portion of theperforations 742 along the perforations 742. As a result, this packageassumes practically the same state as the package using the bag shown inFIG. 35A. The remaining non-heat-sealed portion 740 corresponds to thenon-heat-sealed portion 715 in FIG. 34A and the point M corresponds tothe point L. After the excision of the upper side portion of theperforations 742, the outer bag film 60 can be easily peeled in a mannersimilar to the package using the bag shown in FIG. 35A. In the bag shownin FIG. 36A, since the non-heat-sealed portion 740 is not open to theambience except for the portion of the perforations 742, there is nopossibility that the water-soluble film 6 in the non-heat-sealed portion740 is degenerated by the ambient condition.

While there have been shown and described present preferred embodimentsof the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the claims.

As described above, the present invention provides a laminated filmwhich allows a bag having a double-wall structure consistingsubstantially of an outer bag and an inner bag formed of a water-solublefilm and excelling in outer bag peeling property to be produced by theuse of existing facilities, a method for the production of the laminatedfilm, and a bag and a package using the laminated film.

The present invention further provides a bag and a package which have adouble-wall structure consisting substantially of an outer bag and aninner bag formed of a water-soluble film and allow the productionthereof to be effected by the use of the existing facilities and, when acommodity accommodated therein is to be used, permit the outer bag filmto be easily peeled and a method for peeling the outer bag film.

1. A bag made of at least one laminated film, said at least one laminated film being formed in the shape of a bag opened on one side thereof; wherein said at least one laminated film comprises: an outer-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposed between said outer-layer-film and said water-soluble film; said outer-layer-film and said intermediate layer adhere fast to each other; said intermediate layer and said water-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable; said at least one laminated film is superposed so that said water-soluble film is positioned inside; prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film are heat-sealed so that the parts of said water-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other; a non-heat-sealed portion and a heat-sealed portion are formed in a mutually adjoining state in an area outside a heat-sealed portion enclosing an area of the superposed laminated film destined to accommodate a commodity in a sealed condition after said intermediate layer and said water-soluble film have been peeled from each other; one end of a boundary line between said non-heat-sealed portion in said outside area and said heat-sealed portion in said outside area reaches an outer edge of said bag on which a front side part of said laminated film and a rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; a part of a peripheral edge of said non-heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which continues to said boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; and a part of the peripheral edge of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which continues to said boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other, wherein a slit piercing said laminate film is formed in said outside area in such a manner that one end of said slit reaches the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; and a part of the peripheral edge of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which confronts said boundary line, coincides with at least a part of said slit.
 2. A bag according to claim 1, wherein, of the part of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area that lies along said boundary line, at least the part thereof which is positioned on the side of said one end of said boundary line has a narrow width.
 3. A package comprising: a hermetically sealed bag made of at least one laminated film; and a prescribed commodity placed in said bag; wherein said at least one laminated film comprises; an outer-layer-film including one or more layers; a water-soluble film; and an intermediate layer interposed between said outer-layer-film and said water-soluble film; said outer-layer-film and said intermediate layer adhere fast to each other; said intermediate layer and said water-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable; said at least one laminated film is superposed so that said water-soluble film is positioned inside; prescribed portions of the superposed laminated film are heat-sealed so that the parts of said water-soluble film facing to each other at the prescribed portions are fused to each other; a non-heat-sealed portion and a heat-sealed portion are formed in a mutually adjoining state in an area outside a heat-sealed portion enclosing an area accommodating said commodity, said commodity being maintained in a sealed condition in said area of the superimposed laminated film after said intermediate layer and said water-soluble film have been peeled from each other; one end of a boundary line between said non-heat-sealed portion in said outside area and said heat-sealed portion in said outside area reaches an outer edge of said bag on which a front side part of said laminated film and a rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; a part of a peripheral edge of said non-heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which continues to said boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; and a part of a peripheral edge of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which continues to said boundary line, forms a part of the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other, wherein a slit piercing said front side part and said rear side part of said laminate film is formed in said outside area in such a manner that one end of said slit reaches the outer edge of said bag on which said front side part of said laminated film and said rear side part of said laminated film do not continue into each other; and a part of the peripheral edge of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area, which confronts said boundary line, coincides with at least a part of said slit.
 4. A package according to claim 3, wherein, of the part of said heat-sealed portion in said outside area that lies along said boundary line, at least the part thereof which is positioned on the side of said one end of said boundary line has a narrow width. 